Conference misery::feline

    Wow...I'm a TRUE Cat Codependent...and darn proud of it!!!!
    
    I can even add a few more...
    
    Have you ever slept uncomfortably because your cats had most of the
    bed???  (this is especially tough when you have 9 cats!!)
    
    Have you ever brought your supper in the living room...to get away
    from the cats and eat in peace???
    
    Have you ever missed vacation because you didn't want to leave the
    kids?
    
    Do you have a "Tabby Tab" with your vet?
    
    Sandy
         

    ...it goes without saying that I am definitely Codependent.
    
    I (once again) shop in the baby food section of the grocery store
    as one of Otis's favorite treats is Creamed Spinach; I carry
    around a photo album of my kids - shocked faces and laughs abound
    when people open the cover to find a picture of Otis leaning 
    over the toilet bowl; I make sure his favorite chair is covered
    with HIS blanket (facing the window) so he can bask in the sun
    and still able to keep his eye on outside activities;  upon
    leaving the house I make sure his favorite music is on the
    stereo (YES, he has favorites ... Kenny G, Grover Washington,
    Jr. and George Winston); I do not make ANY plans until after 
    5:30 p.m. - so I can be sure to give him his supper ON TIME; I 
    haven't been on vacation since I adopted him (that's just plain 
    SICK); buy a few extra shrimp so when making MY favorite recipe...
    there is still some for him; sitting on an ottoman instead of the 
    living room chair (because he's in it) so as not to disturb him 
    while he's resting; and of course accommodating his every whim, 
    making sure that while I work in the house - he is aware of where 
    I am at all times ... and basically treating him like he's the 
    best thing since "sliced bread".  
    
    I love him ... SO much!
    
    Marilyn & Otis
    

How about when your cat just looks at you and waves her tail, secure
in the knowledge that you will immediately attend to her current whim?


As far as sleeping goes, when I am getting ready for bed but still have
things to do, I arrange the covers so that Bumble Bea will settle down
in such a way that I can still get in. Then there are the times that my
husband gets into bed in the mean time and rearranges the covers. When
my teeth are clean, I come to bed and find a kitty smack dab where I meant
to be. This is when I make my husband get up so I can get in from his side.

Then there are the times I am able to get all settled in bed so that by the
time Bumble Bea shows up I have staked out my claim. Then Hubby shows up
gets himself all settled - and the light is still on!!!.

    Re: .0

    Oh-oh, I'm in trouble... :-)

    Here's another one: when shopping for a new residence, have you ever
    turned down an otherwise perfect house or apartment because it wasn't 
    suitable for the cats?

    Linda

    Oh, my Gawd, I'm cat codependent!!
    
    And, whenever we go anywhere, I bundle up their favorite blanket and
    all their toys.
    
    I always break my rule of not giving the moggies table scraps - how can
    I resist those cute little faces?
    
    And, I *always* talk about them - they're my kids!

    Re: .3
    
    
    ...hahaha - regarding the lights.  I have done that SO many times.
    Closing the downstairs, turning off the t.v., brushing my teeth,
    fixing his blanket, setting the alarm, getting into bed and
    Otis jumping up and settling in around my legs/feet - only to
    lay down and realize I left the d@m light on!  As soon as I get
    up he thinks it's time to eat (again) and I have to go through
    the entire process again!
    
    M
    

    Just thought of another one....
    
    We spent two years looking for a house on a dead end street...just for
    my two CATS!!!!   We turned down many many house....because of traffic
    in the area.   And the funny part is that on this same dead end street...I
    have collected 7 other strays!!!
    
    Sandy

    When I was looking for a job last winter, I turned down two in a row
    because they required extensive travel, and that was even before S
    needed daily medication.....
    

    RE: a few back
    
    Yes, I DID turn down quite a few apartments because they weren't
    suitable for the cats!  They didn't have a "cattery" type room or the
    cattery was too small.
    
    Explanation .. two of my furrbabies have "litter box problems" when it
    comes to furniture.  consequently, they have a very large room that
    they run in.  And yes, they do get ALL The love they need! (not all
    they want, though.  I'd be in there 24 hours a day for that!).  After
    BOTH are spayed (purebred Korats that I was going to breed, but had no
    luck finding a "whole male" (-:), they'll hopefully stop.
    
    Also, there was one place where there were these permanent valences
    above the windows.  We turned it down because I knew that Kyra would be
    up there constantly! (-:  hahah!!
    
    Holly
    

    Ya, well, have you ever looked for carpeting the colour of hair
    balls???  That's codependent.....
    

    -.1
    
    ...good idea.  The color of puked up hairballs and catnip is about
    identical.  hah!
    
    M
    

    Tell me.. what is the appropriate color for carpet to cover up ahem..
    mistakes the second time around, so to speak?  I can vouch for that
    DuPont stain master stuff!
    
    Karen
    ps/ resolve carpet cleaner helps!

    
    
    	The new Woolite (I think it's Woolite) spray for pet stains
    	is pretty good......
    

    Yes, I fit!
    
    Who else but a cat-co-D would leave the car window down so
    that one of her cats can sleep in the back window of the car?
    Or, stand guard in the rain while a timid cat eats in peace,
    or who won't disturb the cats sitting in her lap, not even to
    get up to go to the restroom? (;
    
    L

    
    ....or you let kiss you with canned fish breath!
    

    Me, too.  When we bought carpet, we brought home samples and Misty sat
    on all of them, and we jokingly said we picked the one she looked good
    on.  Unfortunately, mauve's not the best color for Marnie, our little
    redhead.;-)  
    
    Bob will lie in bed in an uncomfortable position rather than disturb a
    sleeping cat.  We will remain sitting if there is a sleeping kitty on
    our laps.  (Great excuse for the one with the cat, to ask the one
    without the cat to get them something from another room. ;-D).
    
    We definitely think about cat hair when we look for new clothes.
    
    Steffi + 4

    Most assuredly, when I am in bed and thirsth, I have to yell out to my
    husband for something.  He always complains that he can never hear me
    and why don't I just get it my self.  I explain how covered in cats I
    am and how I can't disturb them... don't they look so cute and
    comfortable!!   Now I need a new lampshade for the lamp on my
    headboard.  The little  ones discovered it and have given it that
    stipple effect all along the bottom edge. I suppose I could tell people
    it is meant to look that way?!
    CCD Anonymouse

    Sure.
    
    Heard about the guy who just stopped smoking 'caus the furball didn't
    like it?
    
    re .6: I did it with a remote control... :*)
    
    BTW: Are you sure we are normal...?
    
    Nat

    
    >Have you ever slept uncomfortably because your cat had mose of the
    >bed?...........
    
    I have many nights like this one;-)
    
    Shaw

    How about taking the VERY heavy kitty tree everytime we drive anywhere,
    just so that the babies can look out the window more easily?  Or
    staying on the couch _all_ night, just so you don't disturb the sleeping
    kitty?  Or holding the kitty up higher so he can see out the screen
    door?
    
    Yup, I'm one too!
    
    Sarah

    Yup.  Me too.  I'm a co-dependent too.....
    
    I have done all of these things and more.  Like coming home from an 
    8-day stay in the hospital, too weak to do anything, and spending an
    hour and a half trying to get Thunder (an in-door only kitty) out from
    the trailor and crawling around in the crawl space thinking (If I die,
    no one will know where I am).....
    
    Of course, when I mentioned this to my daughter, she said - "Ma, once
    I realized Thunder had gotten out, I would have figured out where you
    were.   Smart kid....
    
    Sandi and her 6 plus dog plus 1 quarantine kitty
    

    Sandy, has Star returned yet??  I hope so!
    
    I thought of one this morning??  How many of us (this has happened to
    me quite often) have gone to a hotel room or to someone else's house
    (overnight) and not been able to sleep on a perfectly comfortably bed
    just because there's no kitties with you??
    
    Am I cat co-dependant??  Of course!  I've done all of these things PLUS
    much more!!
    
    A few months ago, I was at my fiance's house at a party.  My mother
    called and told me that Kyra had gotten out.  I was in Worcester, and
    my house was in Fitchburg.  Of course I left IMMEDIATELY and went home
    to find Kyra.  Of course, where did I find her??  Underneither the
    couch, way in the back where mom couldn't see her!
    
    Holly
    

    Yes Holly, I too cannot sleep without a cat!  When I travel to my
    grandmothers I usually bring one.  It keeps them in car riding shape
    and brings whoever I bring closer together. It is sort of special as to
    who gets picked!  This way I can cuddle all I want!
    (sort of selfish actually)
    Karen

    As I have had cats almost all of my life, its hard to tell if I could
    exist without one.  I do know I would never get out of bed on time
    without an insistent paw stuck somewhere or other, mostly in my
    mouth, claws extended.  I would need a security alarm without the
    cat dishes placed in awkward places on the kitchen floor--heaven help
    anyone who breaks in.   As Christopher insists on tasting everything
    I eat--is liquorice bad for cats--I don't know what it's like to eat
    alone either.  I worry when any of my cats are out of sight (Chris has
    taken to wapping skunks on the head and chasing them under the garden 
    shed, when ever he finds one), let alone carousing of a night.  
    
    I do know that I would have more green stuff in my bank account without 
    them, but I wouldn't have half as much fun.

    Yesterday we were out looking at townhouses.  And as someone said
    earlier, I was choosing a house that the cats would like, with lots of
    hiding places and shelves to run around on. I would prefer hardwood
    floors in the dining room (which I found) so that they could chase each
    other and get that great slide effect! And stairs!! 3 levels so they
    could tear up and down all those steps. Windows with ledges to sit
    on....
    I hope the babies will like their new house, whatever we choose!

    I came out to the living room this morning to find my husband sleeping
    on the floor with a blanket.  When I asked him if he was okay, he said
    the cats threw him off the couch!!! There wasn't any room for him!
    Pretty sick if you ask me! (of course I have felt like I would burst a
    bladder rather than have to disturb the little buggers during the nite)
    signed,
    anonymous cat co-dependant
    
    Is there a twelve step program for this or am I already in it!?

    
>    Is there a twelve step program for this or am I already in it!?


Step 1.	Be firm, sit on the arm of the couch

Step 2. tickle them under the chin until they move their position a bit

Step 3. tickle them under their ears till they move a bit more

Step 4. slide down the arm of the couch a little, and get 1 leg on the couch

Step 5. put their tails near their mouth, they will roll-over to lick it

Step 6. keep holding the tail inder their noses until they move over more

Step 7. slide down the couch until your sitting on it

Step 8. they'll start to climb on you, leaving the rest of the couch free

step 9 lie down

step 10 they try to get between you and the back of the couch, making you edge 
        away

step 11 you edge away a bit, they really get most of the couch, and you fall
        off.

step 12 go to step 1

The only way to break this 12 step cycle , and get 10 minutes on the couch,
is to go out to the kitchen and put down their favourite food.

Heather
	

    This morning, Bob told me very apologetically, that when he woke up in
    the middle of the night, he had to move Misty.  Seems she was sleeping
    between us, and spead out, taking up much of Bob's side of the bed.  He
    found himself sleeping on the edge.  He hated to disturb her. 
    Yesterday morning Bob was a bit grumpy.  The reason was that he woke up
    during the night, at the edge of the bed.  I was over on his side,
    because the cats had pushed me over there.  We have a queen-size bed,
    but it sure gets crowded with 4 cats.  The problem is they don't just
    want to sleep on the bed, they want to sleep on or against a person. 
    But I love it, (and so does Bob).  Are they spoiled?  Nahhhh. 
    
    Steffi, Misty, Lizette, Misha & Marnie
     
      

    I know what you mean about fighting the cats for bed-space.  I have a
    kingsize waterbed.  You'd think that would be big enough for one
    smallish person and 3 cats but NO!  The cats curl up on all sides of me
    and woe to the person who disturbs them in the night by attempting to
    move even one limb!  I get my nose and eyelids licked to death in
    the night.  Now if that isn't a weird feeling...waking up to a
    sand-papery cat-tongue giving your face the once over!  I've heard of a
    facial scrub but at least wait until I'm awake!
    
    Nanci

    I know the feeling!  I have a queen size bed and 2 cats, and usually
    wake up with one on each side of my leg making it very difficult to
    move.  Their both all snuggled in and warm, and I hate to make them
    move (I gotta stop drinking tea at night!).
    
    Fortunately, when he realizes I'm awake, Nic comes over and wants under
    the covers.  Then I can move my legs, but if I get up he won't stay
    put, and I still feel bad about disturbing him!
    
    Michelle

I have a queen size bed and usually 3 cats....but Julie is bad enough.
Julie MUST cling to me all night.  It's mandatory.  If it's cold (in her
opinion), she must cling to me under the duvet.  I used to not wish to
disturb her, but now, all bets are off.  After all, one of us has to go
to work in the morning......

Mary

    Bailey and Amelia like to curl up on top of the comforter between
    my legs (down near the ankle area).  I have perfected the technique
    of turning over in my sleep while moving one leg up, around, then
    down to avoid disturbing them.
    
    I remember distinctly having a nightmare one night that I was 
    paralyzed.  I couldn't move for anything.  I woke up with Carrie
    sleeping stretched the length of my right side, Onyx stretched the
    length of my left side and Bailey and Amelia sleeping between my
    legs.  They were all on top of the comforter and I was pinned 
    down completely.
    
    Jan

    Yup, that's my problem.  I usually have Muffin on one side, Samantha on
    the other and Beethoven likes to curl around the top of my head like a 
    fur hat!  I can't move without disturbing one or the other of them!
    
    Nanci

    Jan, that's how it starts!! They pin you in and then figure they rule
    the roost!! Try it with seven or more and see if you can get to the
    bathroom!  I admit, at times I have frantically booted most out when in
    dire need of sleep.  The other aspect is that of "uncontrollable
    thermostat" syndrome.  You wake up drenched in sweat wondering what the
    heck is wrong with you until you realize that all seven cats maintain
     a normal body temp of around 101 degrees.  That's enough to make you
    turn on the air conditioner!
    Karen

    
    You know you're cat dependent when despite the allergies, you just 
    have to let one or two sleep with you....
    
    or how about?
    
    
    When your S.O. asks "who's more important: me or the Cats?"  and you
    have to stop and think about it. :^)

    On a similar note to .35
    
    You know you're cat dependent when you found out your former SO felt 
    you gave more attention to the cats than you did to him and you responded 
    to that revelation with "Okay, so next time I serve meals around here 
    I'll put a bowl down on the floor for you, fill it with food and 
    scratch you behind the ears." 
    
    When he responds to that offer with "Okay" you know he has a serious 
    problem. ;-)
    
    Jan

    I used to get that from my soon to be ex husband.  I always told him if
    cooking for him was as easy as opening a can of cat food, then he'd
    have dinner on the table every single night!  As it was, I used to
    scrub down his bathroom which was worse than sifting three litter boxes
    twice a day.
    
    He never asked me to choose, and he did love the cats lots, but the
    old, "you love them more than me" whine got quite old, quite fast.
    

    In my house if you asked the question "who do you love better
    the cats or me?"  I believe both our responses would be the CATS!!
    No wonder we get along so well..
    
    Sandy

    
    Yup, my fiance already knows the expression, "After the cats, honey,
    you're #1". (-:
    
    
    RE: quite a few back 
    
    About the woman who dreamed she was paralyzed.  I've had that same
    dream before.  I woke up realizing that the heater was on the fluke and
    I had one cat on each side of me, one on each leg, one on my stomach,
    and one on my chest. .. Mom had the other three! (-:
    
    And even worse .. I had a dream one time that I was pregnant.  I woke
    up to Silver sleeping on my stomach. (-:
    
    Holly
    

    Holly - 
    
    That reminded me of when I was pregnant with my daughter and I dreamt
    I had a litter of three kittens.  :-) 
    
    Nanci

    I have a magnet outside my office on my file cabinet that says,
    
    "He said I had to choose, him or the animals.....
    			...we miss him sometimes."
    
    Got a couple of strange looks around the office when I got divorced..
    :-) :-)
    
    Mary-Michael

    A co-worker gave me a sign that says:
    
    Husband and Cat Missing
    Reward for Cat
    
    
    :') :')
    
    
    And I also have another sign that says "We are staying together for the
    sake of the cats"
    
    
    :')
    
    
    While I was out on disability a friend gifted me with a book called
    "Cat Dependent No More".  It was a very funny tongue-in-cheek twelve
    step program for ending cat dependency.  Hysterically funny.  One
    cartoon said "I am not just a client of the Hairball club for men, I am
    the president too" :')
    
    Jo