Tiffany has not been talking to us for days. Not that Tiffany ever really talks to us, because Tiffany is the cat. But Tiffany has a cat way of letting us know that she is not talking to us and that she finds our behavior extremely uncalled for and quite unacceptable. Tiffany does this by avoiding us whenever possible. Which she has been doing for days.

When Tiffany is not mad at us, she chooses to be really sociable. That means that if we are together in a room, she will usually follow us there. She will curl up under a light or in some other warm place and close her eyes, and we all know that Tiffany is happy.

Also when Tiffany is pleased with us, she stations herself between wherever we happen to be and the kitchen. That way, whenever one of us goes to the kitchen, Tiffany can waddle - her way of dashing - into the kitchen before us, so that we can pet her when she goes to her cat dish to eat. Tiffany is the only cat we know who likes to be petted when she eats. We have no idea why this is so and can only suspect that, like many of us humans, she confuses affection with food. However, we also suspect that this only partially accounts for such strange cat behavior, but we cannot explain the rest.

When Tiffany is really happy with one of us, she will sit near the kitchen and turn toward us and stare at us beseechingly with beautiful, large green cat eyes. This is absolutely irresistible to us, which Tiffany most certainly knows. Whoever she chooses to stare at understands, without doubt, to stop everything he or she is doing immediately and to accompany Tiffany into the kitchen so that Tiffany can be petted while eating. This behavior is well understood and by now quite well-established between the various members of Tiffany s household.

And lastly, whenever we have our meals, Tiffany, as the fine upstanding member of the household she is, is always there.

So you can imagine our surprise when suddenly Tiffany ceased following us around the house! Followed by our dismay when she stopped hanging out to be petted when she ate! Followed by our absolute consternation over her absence at meal times!

Chuck and I were totally at a loss to explain such unheard - of behavior. We mentioned it to Jill, who confirmed that sadly enough, Tiffany was indeed mad. Tiffany is no longer even sleeping at the spot she usurps at the foot of Jill s bed. Instead, Jill told us, she is skulking behind the mirror by day and withdrawing into her carrying case by night. And Jill is pretty sure she knows the reason why.

Tiffany is mad, Jill says, because Jill is no longer giving her wet food. Tiffany loves her wet food, but the vet told Jill that giving Tiffany wet food is like giving her cheeseburgers every day. Judging by Tiffany s size, it s probably more like giving her Big Macs!

One year ago, the vet told Jill that Tiffany was fat and spoiled. And this year, Tiffany is even fatter! So Jill is putting her on a diet and not giving her wet food. But I guess Tiffany is more spoiled, too. Because she refuses to have anything to do with us.

I really have no idea about what will happen. Will Jill be firm with Tiffany, and will Tiffany become svelte? Or will Tiffany be firm with Jill, and will Jill give in? It's very hard to say.

Except that, judging from past experience, Tiffany will assert her rights in no uncertain way and will most likely reestablish matters on her own terms. Tiffany is a very smart cat.

And I am absolutely positive she knows how much we miss her at mealtimes.

September,1996
BB