This is John (Randi's husband) interrupting on Randi's favourite site with a tale about Fister.
The Battle of the Bed
When Fister first enchanted me in our back yard, I insisted that we get him up to live in our flat. Randi, understandably, was a bit doubtful, he was after all 100% feral and over a year old. But I had to try, and found a cage and some shrimps and had a go. Fister instantly taught me that this was a serious mistake, and I ended up in hospital with both hands shredded to bits. (I have owned wild cats before, but Fister was seriously independant!)
OK, we decided, we would have to use intelligence and patience, and entice him up a bit at a time. We started by leaving the yard door and our kitchen door open (we live in a 1st floor flat), and after about 6 months we had him eating in the kitchen and making occasional hesitant trips into the flat. Slowly but surely he began to make himself at home, and it was around this time that Randi made her famous comment. Allright, we can keep him up here, but HE’S NOT COMING ONTO THE BED! Ah what innocent naivity.
It started as it always does with cats, slowly and patiently. First was our best easy chair. This quickly became his domain, then followed a blanket under the bed, a cushion under a wardrobe, in a little bed under the telephone table, the window sill etc etc. But Fister, unbeknown to us, had his sights set on higher things.
His first trips onto the bed were very carefull and hesitant. (He is a VERY nervous cat). Starting at the bottom of the bed by Randis’ feet (she’s shorter than me), he slowly enroached further up, and began to lay full length between us and chill out. Soon he was lying curled up in my arms while we watched TV. Later he got the habit of stretching out on his back and sleeping across my stomach, and now he loves wandering around and walking backwards and forwards over my chest and stomach (he weighs nearly 8 kilos!). This was not enough of course, he still had his sights set on greater conquests, or to put it bluntly, total domination! The next bone of contention was the little space between our pillows (about 40 cm square). It took months of patient toil for him to aquire control over that bit of territory too.
Even at this point, we weren’t aware just how total his plans for domination were, because it turned out that he wasn’t finished yet! The ultimate prize was still to be won - to own Randis pillow! This battle has been going on for ages, and in spite of stern resistance from us, he just about has control over that area now. If he’s in a generous mood, Randi will be allowed about 60% of her own pillow, but give him the slightest chance, and he will be lying flat out across it with a big grin on his face.
So nowadays, as we fall into a gentle slumber to the sound of his purring, he will lie, warm, well fed and quite content, surveying his territory. The last bastions have fallen, all resistance is crushed. Two tame humans and a whole bed - the battle is won!
He sighs and lays his head gently down onto the pillow - onto HIS pillow!
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