I have more than my fair share of Pixiebobs, and I have noticed over time how the girls seem to develop their own little tricks. Not sure why none of my boys invent things, their interests are soley on Women, Food and Sleep and a lot of fuss made over them (sound familar ;oP). They'll sometimes pick up on a trick if it benefits them in some way but otherwise thay are just not interested.
Anyway this has become such a prominent thing amongst them, that I just had to write a blog entry for it. Everyone knows Pixiebobs are highly intelligent so in a way this doing tricks thing is not surprising. The thing that is amazing about this, is they are not taught these things. Like you'd teach a dog to roll over or beg etc. They either learn from observation, or they just logically think its the sensible thing to do. OK so enough rambling, lets get down to what each of these girls does.
Starlight, well her favorite thing is opening doors. Now I'm not talking cupboards here, quite a few cats learn this and usual the cupboard with the food in... I'm talking a full size room door with a latch handle. She jumps up, grabs the handle and pulls it down, shifts her weight so it opens. She even sometimes closes them, standing on her back legs and leaning on it! Her next favourite thing is turning on lights, unfortunately she hasn't yet decided to turn them back off again but maybe thats to come. Luckily this is only the pull cord variety so restricted to both toilets and the bathroom, but she'll jump up and grab the cord with her paw. I wouldnt be surprised if she doesnt work out a regular switch sooner or later, she is by far the most observant of them all.
Alessi her thing is turning on taps, and opening cupboard doors. She has now taught the tap trick to Starlight and Paddy too. Even Ed has a go, but hasnt quite got the hang of it.
Shenona does have her little trick, but it is only to spite the others and claim her property.. She can be a minx at times. Anyway her thing is to drink the water she wants, and then wee in the bowl so no one else can drink from it. Thankfully she only seems to favour one of the bowls as hers, and the others she leaves alone.
The latest thing is Lil' Spud, I have no idea where she got it from... She uses her litter tray and then afterwards she washes her paws. Now I'm not talking licking them, I mean she sticks them in a bowl of water gives them a good old swish around and then pulls them out and licks them dry. It had been for some time that I kept finding one of the water bowls with residues of litter in the bottom of it. It was no where near a tray and I couldnt work out how it was happening. Then yesterday, I saw Spud washing her feet, mystery solved... like why didn't I think of that before!! Anyway she has claimed this bowl as her foot bath.
None of them seem to bother doing anything other than drink from the water fountains so I've resigned myself to buying several more of these... the only way to ensure they'll have drinking water available. But they are the most funniest intelligent cats I've ever shared my life with.
Now I know its not just MY Pixiebobss that do tricks (many owners and breeders have reported this). Although I've yet to come across any that do the same as mine.
They also have little quirks, Shenona makes a funny little sucking movement like a baby with a dummy. Star likes to ride on my shoulder, Alessi adores sinks, Ollie obsesses with plastic bags and has to sit on it or claw it, Morgana obesses with Feathers. Spud has to be close to your skin so will try to climb inside your clothes, Ed wants to eat all day and Paddy would put Play above Eat, Sleep or breathing if he could. They are so individual and never cease to make me laugh.
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