Is My Cat A Dog??

It did cross our minds. When we were thinking of buying a pet, we did actually contemplate getting a dog. After all there are things....small things...that a dog can offer over and above a cat. For instance, you can go for a walk with a dog. You can play games with a dog. A dog will retrieve. All these things a cat can't do.

Oh no?! Let me introduce you to Ellie. Our three year old blue Burmese. From the beginning we thought it was just kittenish behaviour but it grew and grew and now, well its clear Ellie is training us.

It started when we were playing with her favourite toy-a feather on the end of a stick and elastic. She would chase this for hours on end. Then one night after playing with her in the kitchen we moved to the living room-leaving her with the feather. It wasn't long before we heard this dragging sound down the hallway. Next thing we knew Ellie's backing into the living room with the stick in her mouth.

Now she will sit at our feet with stick, head on one side, a heart renching mioaw (play with me) that only the hardest of hearts could ignore. Its quite clear she is training us!

But thats not where it ends. After stick retrival we tried balls, mice, toy spiders-and yes! Retrieve them she did!

Walkies? Well no, Ellie wouldn't put up with being on a lead. This would be too below her. She does however do something that is remeniscent of dog behaviour. She has to be where people are. So if you get up and leave a room, Ellie (if she is not asleep) will follow you.