Duped Again

Unfortunately for Skippy, she is a creature of habit. Again, I don't know if this strict adherence to routine is characteristic of the Jack Russell, but with Skippy, it certainly is. You would think that this would make it easier to train her. It actually makes it near impossible! That being said, her reactions to circumstances that are new or out of her control will very quickly birth a new array of strange habits (see future posts on thunderstorms and my wife's cooking).

One of these habits Kitty has cleverly figured out is that every time Skippy comes in from outside she must, as if by compulsion, blindly run as fast as she can down the entire length of the 25-foot entrance way and living room. There are several pieces of furniture that provide Kitty with ample cover and height to either hide behind or climb upon.

At different times I have seen this cat wait behind a chair until Skippy is about to pass her before she jumps in front of her and hisses her hatred. Maybe this is Kitty's way of playing, you say? I am convinced that it is; but let me continue, as her "playing" seems to take on a more aggressively vindictive nature.

When Kitty really feels adventurous she will use the furniture as a vantage point to stalk her prey; this dim-witted Jack Russell. Following the dog from her aerial vantage point, she jumps from chair to table to couch, all the while, Skippy, unsuspectingly quickly trots down the corridor, oblivious of her imminent danger. At the very last moment, as Skippy begins to decelerate, the cat descends upon her from above, sending the dog into a panic. She begins to shiver as if cold, and looks at us, her supposed protectors, with confusion and terror.

Finally, and perhaps the most playfully cruel of her methods of torment is to wait behind a chair patiently until Skippy passes, at which point she stealthily follows in behind. When Kitty is close enough she swats Skippy's hind legs out from under her. At this point all those forces of physics that I know nothing about - momentum, velocity, inertia and friction - take over and Skippy slides across the laminate flooring until she collides any number of possible objects.

Let's take a moment of pity for Skippy, our victim Jack Russell terrier.

Now let's look at this a little closer. First of all, it is difficult not to laugh when you see this unfold in front of you; actually it's quite shocking. Initially there's laughter combined with shock, followed by small amounts of guilt and pity, and you comfort the dog through your smiles and later you laugh again when she is not looking. I guess what really amazes me about these situations is that Skippy seems to have the inability to learn from them. She must run down the entire length of the room. The innocence of her expression is sad to our pitying eyes. She is the only one who doesn't see; the only one who doesn't remember; the only one who is surprised. Seriously, what is up with this dog?

I took the photo right after the cat attacked Skippy twice. Every morning Skippy comes into the bedroom. Easy pickings says Kitty.