Changing Dynamics

I've posted before about the ranking in the Cats' Household. Tolly is Top Cat, elected by Mazy and Jennie after Ootay left us for the Bridge almost two years ago. Still undisputed. All the girls adore him and defer to him, though he is just the sweetest thing, and it's beyond me how he keeps them in line.

Jennie is Second cat and Mazy has always seemed content to remain last but not least.

When Queen Eva came Jennie was very protective of her Second Cat status and Queen Eva was very submissive to Jennie. Mazy remained where she was, and has always been nothing but gentle with Queen Eva.

A few months passed and Queen Eva began playing really rough with Mazy. Thumping her to the floor. Mazy was very surprised but remained gentle with Queen Eva. Eventually Mazy did begin to brace herself and not allow Queen Eva to thump her to the floor, but still no aggression or roughness.

Jennie's method of playing is to ambush, swear and swat and chase. Tolly and Mazy know this and enjoy her Games, Tolly even teases her to box his ears and chase him in this way. Mazy, too enjoys these forays with Jennie. They kick up their heels and laugh as they run away.

Queen Eva at first would avoid eye contact and go into a Roll-and-Flop when playing with Jennie. But then, Queen Eva started challenging Jennie, holding her ground and batting back with her paws. Jennie was quite surprised at this. Gradually, not only did she bat with paws, she moved in, causing Jennie to either back off or run. Jennie has always been extremely gentle with Queen Eva, but the foul language when this happens would blister your ears.

Now I notice that Queen Eva is not waiting for Jennie to initiate the Game. Queen Eva is chasing and pouncing on Jennie! Jennie doesn't mind a little Chase Me Chase You, but does not like this frontal attack at all, and her language is at ear splitting decibels as she voices her disapproval. Queen Eva thinks it's hilarious.

In the mean time Mazy continues to brace herself against Queen Eva's floor thumping, and I notice that now Mazy has begun to Tumble Queen Eva. She's still gentle about it, the floor is not shaking, but she is definitely beginning to give it back.

And then....two nights ago I saw something that astounded me. I saw Mazy get ambushed by Jennie. That's normal. But, instead of running away laughing, Mazy turned and swatted back at Jennie. Jennie was so surprised she fell over backwards. I was careful not to laugh but can't help thinking....where will it all lead to?

One thing remains constant. Tolly is Top Cat, plays with them all, and no one, not even Jennie, ever challenges him.

I call that Chase Me Chase You, and you know it's just Games. All of my cats play that. I love watching them.

Funny, many of my childhood memories involve watching cats play that Game.

Ootay was Top Cat right up to her end, all 4 pounds of her. (her healthy weight was 6.5 but she dwindled with her CRF and other illnesses) I thought sure Jennie or Mazy would take over, or maybe there'd be no alpha. But after a few weeks it became very clear that the two girls had elected Tolly Top Cat.

Darko may be teasing Sven, but on the other hand he may just be reaching out. Kind of a "Hey, how you doing, you feeling alright?" type of paw. Sven may not appreciate it, but that doesn't mean Darko's motives aren't pure.

Aw, thanks. Queen Eva let me know her name loud and clear.

When I first met her she was four weeks old and as I scritched her chin she gazed lovingly into my eyes and told me her name was Eva. (She was being called 'Lucky').

It took me another 4 weeks to get her out of the bad situation she was in, but that early Sunday morning as I drove her away from the bad place she informed me at the top of her voice (and she has a Very Loud Voice, even back then as a malnourished flea ridden 8 week old baby) anyway she told me in no uncertain terms that she is QUEEN Eva.

As for the changes happening here....I do find it very interesting that now that Queen Eva has started challenging Jennie, the other two are too. Just tonight, after Tolly teased Jennie into boxing his ears as he loves to do, instead of running away kicking up his heels, he turned around and swatted back.

I think they just like to make her swear.