When Humans Get Overconfident

I had to punish Bevie, Spouse, and Son. Didn't like doing it, but some things just have to be done. They were all getting out of hand.

Life has routines, and humans have to learn to stick to them. The most important routine there is is the routine where things in my house have to go the way I expect them to. Generally, this isn't a problem. Bevie and the others seem to know their places and behave accordingly.

But not this past week. This past week they have been downright unruly. Unpredictable, even!

Days are supposed to begin with Bevie getting up at some strange hour. I will get up and make sure nothing is amiss - and get my back scratched and head rubbed. purrrrrr!

When Spouse gets up I am fed. Then Son gets up and the three of them leave. Shortly after Bevie and Spouse return. Son must be in a kennel or something. After that, Spouse will leave. Sometimes in the morning and sometimes later. Bevie will watch this strange show (Last of the New Wine), which is the signal Son is soon to come home. Then Bevie leaves. Shortly after, Bevie returns with Son. Not long after that I am fed again. Spouse will come home and the three of them will have their supper. When they finish eating they watch something. I will come up and let them carress my coat. Sometimes, if I'm feeling generous, I'll even purr for them. They like that, you know.

But that's not what they've been doing! They leave and come back at strange times. The one day they left very early and didn't come back until very late. That just isn't acceptable. It disrupted my entire day. They did the same thing the next day. I thought they were back to normal the day after, but they did it again yesterday! Do you realize I have had to actually wait to get fed? So, I had to discipline them. I had to be rough.

When they returned from whatever supposed important thing they had been doing, I made sure they saw me. Then I walked away and ignored them. Later, when they were watching their shows, I really took it to them. I jumped up where all three could see me plainly. Then I sat down - back to them. Oh, they just hate that. They fawned and they pleaded. They were so distressed. Eventually, I had to be merciful. But I think they've learned their lesson now.

Sometimes you just have to use tough love.
.