Why do cats love windows? Or shall I say, more specifically, why do cats love windows that are not convenient at all to look out of? Like, at all???
We have quite a few windows in our apartment. Half of them have easy access for the viewing pleasures of Franklin and Kap. Half of them are extremely difficult to get to due to the objects on the tabletops/counters in front of them. Kap prefers the easily accessible windows.
I'll give you one guess as to which half Franklin prefers to look out of...
Did you guess the more difficult windows? Because if you did, that's correct!
Even though I have tried to teach Franklin that he is not allowed on the kitchen table, his favorite window in our apartment - you guessed it! - is the window only accessible by jumping on the kitchen table. Sure, the view is great, but the same view is accessible by the couch about five feet away. So why does Franklin need to jump on the table when the couch is right there?
Before researching for this blog post, I had two guesses. The first was because I am sitting at the table and he wants to be near me. Which is very sweet, but irritating all the same. The second reason was because little Franklin is a bit of a rebellious kitten. He has definitely reached the stage where he knows he is doing something wrong, but "better to ask for forgiveness than permission" seems to be his motto.
While researching reasons as to why Franklin may be the rebellious type, I found a fascinating article from Auburn Animal Hospital that introduced me to the concept of The Alpha Cat. This is the excerpt that helped me understand Franklin the most:
"They are natural leaders; they refuse to be led and attempt to take charge of practically every situation. These cats like their food when they want it and the way that they like it … or else. They may only let you touch them for short periods of time and then again, only on their terms. They rebel when admonished and demand attention, access, and assets - when the mood so takes them. You don’t own an alpha cat – he owns you, or at least, he thinks he does.
When alphas don’t get their own way, they bully and pressure you into immediate action... They may shriek their demands for food until you are forced to give in... And watch out if you try to pick up your alpha cat or pet him when he’s not in the mood. He may bite or claw his negative message to you in no uncertain terms."
Oh boy, is this our Franny-cakes...
When Franklin is hungry, he meow-screams. It does not matter what time of day or night (usually night) it may be. I've mentioned in previous blog posts that Franklin wakes me up pretty easily, and he figured out within the first week of us adopting him that I'm the easy target, not John. While meow-screaming he runs over my body, creating a sensory overload that forces me to cave and feed him so that he'll leave me alone and I can get back to sleep as quickly as possible.
Franklin is also very particular about when he likes to cuddle. As a Ragdoll, about 99% of the time when I scoop him up into my arms to hold him, he allows it, noodling into me and chilling until I've had my fill of kissing him and telling him how handsome he is. But, on the occasions that fall into the 1%, he claws his way free, willing to jump from any height in order to get away.
There have been times I've caught myself wondering about snuggle time with Franklin. Sometimes I can get him to settle with me when I want a snuggle session, but most of the time Franklin decides when he wants to snuggle. Half the time I fall asleep alone and wake up to him resting beside me or on my chest (dependent on how I'm laying down), and usually if I'm sitting at the kitchen table for an extended period of time he likes to jump on my lap and cuddle- also demanding a good facial massage while he falls asleep. It's incredibly precious, and also, I now realize, manipulative.
With my newfound understanding of Franklin and his belief that he is an Alpha Cat, it makes a lot more sense as to why he likes the windows that are more difficult to get to. I have told him no. I believe I am the Alpha- I own him. Franklin wants me to know that it's the other way around: He is the Alpha, and so he owns me. Leading to the rebellious acts of going where I have tried to teach him not to go.
Oh boy... he sure is lucky he's so cute.
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"Meow MEOW" - Franklin Tiger, Alpha Cat
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