I have been watching Kimi and our cat, also known as Garfield (because of his taste for pasta and pizza) a lot lately and it seems to me that these two are much like brother and sister in the way they act. Garfield being the older brother of course. Kimi follows him around every chance she gets, harassing his peaceful existance to no end. Seeing his tail as a perfectly placed, mouth sized toy, that's usually the first place she goes. And the first thing she grabs. Being the little sister, Kimi delights in snagging this bushy toy and yanking it just to get his attention. Being the older brother, Garfield holds it up high above this yipping little pest, dropping it down to wave it in her face when he feels like he is losing her attention. Once Kimi makes a fast snap for it again, he will quickly jerk it high in the air, high enough that she can just almost, but not quite reach it. After a few minutes of this, our over-challengd little Kimi usually flops down to the floor, heaving an exaggerated sigh of frustration. And Garfield struts of, tail held high, sure of his own superiority over the canine race.

But if one watches closely, they will see Kimi has other plans up her...uh...paw. She carefully watches the cat from the corner of her tiny brown eyes. She knows he will be laying down again soon, as with most cats they prefer to sleep their day away. She watches him closely for signs of his approaching nap and when his eyes slowly....but surely....close in slumber, Kimi's head snaps up, both eyes wide open! You can almost read her thoughts as her grin begins to form. This cat better beware!

Slowly Kimi rises to her feet, somehow knowing a fast and noisey move will waken her sleeping victim. She remains in a semi-crouched position as she stalks this mighty feline step by stealthy step. If you were to listen with your heart, surely you would hear her laughing to herself.

Kimi approaches. Garfield's tail lazily thumps to the floor. Kimi's leg muscles tighten. Garfield's left ear twitches casually. And with a mighty "YIP!!" that no Native American pooch could best, Kimi pounced! She leaped! She struck with lightening speed. She landed with all the full force her bold four pounds could muster. And she grabbed that flickering furry tail with all the gusto of an aged prospector finding his first golden nugget.

Garfield's eyes sprang open in shock, he jumped to his feet and let out a mighty HISSSS!!! Kimi laughed through her fur filled teeth and hung on. The cat tried to run through the kitchen and Kimi became a pint sized dust mop as she skated along behind this rapidly fleeing feline. Garfield ran down the hall and Kimi's toes became a rake, lifting the carpeting as she steadfastly hung on to this wonderful new 'pull-toy'. (well, he was pulling HER wasn't he?) Either laughing still or trying to spit out tufts of kitty fur, Kimi refused to let go.

The cat lay down on his belly and used his claws to drag himself ...and Kimi...army-man style through the bedroom door. His growls and snarls would have surely left a bigger dog quaking in his or her uh...pawsteps, but not our fearless Kimi. Oh no....not our Kimi! Her ears perked up, her eyes sparkled with joy and she merely growled back, doing her best cat like imitation yet.

For the record, I DID warn Kimi to let go. I did tell Kimi that cat was gonna whop her a good one! But for all my dire warnings Kimi simply let out what can only be described as, as a giggle. (yep...you heard me a GIGGLE!) and rolled to her back, the kitties tail still between her teeth.

Just as I began to ask myself..."would he...?", he did. Garfield had made it to the edge of the bed with his belly crawl, still dragging Kimi behind him. He gathered his muscles, and launched all twenty-one pounds of himself onto the foot of my bed. Seeing as he outweighs Kimi about five-to-one, and seeing as his tail (although a bit less of it) was still between her firmly clenched teeth, Kimi became instantly airborne and she hit the side of the bed with her back. Startled she opened her mouth and promptly fell to the floor in a muddled heap of puppiness. Don't ask me how she managed to do it, but she landed with a thump on her head.

Undetered in her quest to recapture her prize, Kimi began springing up and down, up and down, yipping madly, trying in vain to gain access to the top side of the bed. Once she realized she would never make it by braun, she switched to brain and quickly spotted another way up. There was a big pile of pillows on the floor.! Scaling them with all the finess of a pro rock climber, Kimi was soon after her prey again.

Now...to all the cats and cat-lovers who may be reading this, I will be fair. I shouted to Kimi "NO!" and she quickly lay down, looking at me with barly concealed disgust. Right behind the cat Kimi lay...close enough to touch, but not doing so. Exacting his own brand of revenge, Garfield lay in front of our windows, nonchallantly waving his tail to and fro....right past Kimi's twitching nose. I repeated my order of "NO" and Kimi dropped her nose to the bed, rolling her eyes at me and the cat. And thus, Garfield's tail began its teasing dance. Left, right, up down, right over, under and around Kimi's nose.

And if Kimi's tongue snaked out of her little mouth from time to time it was NOT with the intent to recapture the elusive prey, I assure you. She was simply trying to brush off the cat hair fluttering around her, tickling her nose.

Kimi reluctantly remained the good little girl she is. After all, mommy said no and mommies always know best!

At least for now!!

walk in beauty
Kristi & Kimi