James Bond has been feeling pretty good lately. I know putting him on a regimen of probiotics has improved his mood, and his appetite.

Because, first thing in the morning, he’s started doing The Takeoff.

That’s what I call the cat communication move that is designed to make us get out of bed and follow them… into the kitchen.

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To perform The Takeoff, the cat jumps onto the bed and putters around to give us a chance to become as excited about breakfast as they are. If we are doing things right, we ignore them… because it’s not time to get up yet. (As the days grow longer, and the windows brighter, the cats worry that I’m oversleeping.)

This is their cue to leap off the bed with as much force and speed as possible. They “take off” from the edge and thunder into the kitchen. I’m supposed to get just as excited as they are, and follow them.

While I’m usually not appreciative at the time, I do find it amazing that cats have the awareness and intelligence to mime the actions they are asking of me. They understand that they are gaining my attention, they hope their excitement is catching, and since other cats love to chase them, perhaps I will join in, too.

The cats don’t always bother me in the mornings. But spring, between Daylight Saving Time and more sun in the mornings, can throw off their perception of when I’m supposed to get up. I also spent a month catching the bus, where I got up an hour earlier. So, being cats, they want to err on the side of caution. Certain mornings, they will test. To make sure.

It’s a little sad that good cat training means I cannot fall for The Takeoff first thing in the morning. This is a move they don’t use unless subtler means have failed, and if I’m awake, subtler hints will be noticed, and acted upon. So The Takeoff remains a desperation move that doesn’t work, but this does not dampen their hopes.

One thing that always makes me smile into my pillow is their willingness to do this over and over again. Or at least until I wake up enough to tell them It’s not time yet and tap the alarm clock to remind them that it has not gone off.

This tells them that I’m aware of the time, the alarm, and the importance of breakfast.

Unfortunately, this can remind Olwyn that if she works on the alarm, and presses all the buttons, she can sometimes make the alarm go off. It isn’t very often, and I’m glad of that.

According to the rules of the game, if she succeeds in making the alarm go off, I then have to get up and feed them.

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There’s more ways to understand our cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See all of my posts on WHY CATS DO THAT.