One of my cats recently brought in a live mouse. The other two quickly gathered round to help, watch, aid-and-abet, cheer on, swipe a paw in the direction of the mouse, join in the fun!
Two of my cats normally hate each other, but all hostilities were suspended in the pursuit of this greater good – the chase! The two who don’t get on are sisters (of course), and used to live together in harmony, but now can’t be in a room together without hissing, growling, or (on a good day) ignoring each other, facing oppositte directions, with their ears back, waiting for the other to pounce.
But suddenly the dynamic changed with this new challenge. Instinct took over – we must work as a pack, round up the mouse, head it off at the pass, don’t let it escape! If it zigs, I’ll zag. If it runs for the door, I’ll trap it by the skirting board.
Incidentally the 3rd cat, who is older, watched from a slight distance, like a great aunt, ready to do her bit but not wanting to be too energetic, in case she put her back out.
So, the break from the routine brought a newfound sense of purpose; the two sisters were able to work together and share a common goal. They reconnected, didn’t think about it too deeply and went into sabre-toothed tiger mode (were they pack animals?! I don’t know). Or lion-pride mode – they worked as a team.
My point is:
Maybe the sistely sniping is a function of not having enough to do, being bored, their energy is being directed towards niggling and sniping, thinking – who has the plum spot on the warm sofa, and who’s on the cold floor? Who got to the food bowl first? Who got the nice stroking from mummy? Whose fur was brushed? Who seems to be the favourite? If they had a tougher life, maybe they wouldn’t have time for this resentment?
On the other hand, maybe cat behaviour doesn’t work like this. It’s every man for himself, always. In any case, I was surprised and pleased to see them happy, focused and playing nicely together. Until we shooed them out and released the mouse back into the wild (only to be caught again, another day?) Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.
So, extrapolating this theory, if we catch ourselves resenting, niggling, being disatisfied and angry about small things, look to the wider picture. See if there is something greater we can become involved in: perhaps a cause, helping a friend, reaching out to assist with a charity, a project or event. In the words of the addiction self-help programmes: if you are disatisfied, and wallowing in self-pity, ask yourself, “Who have I helped today?”
