Or, as we often call it, Cat Tattling.
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This is usually a specialty of Betas, whose keen social interests make them ideally suited to both notice, and rat out, offenders.
The two young cats, Reverend Jim and Olwyn, have become fascinated with a little bookcase we have in the bedroom. Now that I’ve tidied it up, the paperbacks on the top, open, shelf look more solid; and thus, more likely to be landed on during play. We have told both of them they are not supposed to jump on it.
So, it has now morphed into another source of amusement; each cat is eager to rat out the other if one of them forgets.
The other night, Mr WereBear didn’t notice that Olwyn had crept onto the top shelf of the bookcase, until Reverend Jim drew his attention to it. RJ had already been told to get down from there, and he wasn’t about to let Olwyn get away with it.
In another incident, RJ became frustrated with Olwyn when she monopolized his favorite toy, but instead of asking us for some solitary play time, he sat on her a little too hard, making her squeal. He backed right off, and we praised him for it, but this was not enough for Mr. Bond.
As we were getting ready to bribe Olwyn into the bathroom so we could take care of RJ, we heard a big thump. Mr. Bond had knocked RJ onto his side, and was staring at him, lashing his tail. RJ humbly begged forgiveness, and all was well.
Since cats do not have hierarchical social structures, where do these kinds of impulses come from?
The cat’s sense of routine. Cats rely on their routines. The possibility of having a treasured event delayed or disrupted because Someone Else has messed things up can motivate a cat to stick to the program. And nudge other cats to do so.
I’ve been on my knees, picking up broken porcelain or blotting up the carpet, when inquiring faces appear to let me know it’s dinnertime. I explain I can’t do it now, tell them why, and I name names. They remember.
The cat’s sense of outcomes. It always cracks me up when we get a new kitten, because the new kitten will play with wires or walk on the music keyboard, and there’s the older cat, staring in horror at such blatant disrespect.
Sedate and responsible cats know kittens will get in trouble, and dislike the fuss made over disciplining them. So if a cat can discourage another one from misbehaving, they can head off the correction, too.
The cat’s sense of learning. Cats have sensitive emotional sides that helps them avoid bad outcomes. This works in the wild, and in our home.
Cats love to teach a new kitten How Things Are Done. This makes them feel good, because they have anticipated a desired outcome, and then brought it about. This applies to any process, animate or inanimate.
I encourage our older cats to be mentors, supervisors, and, if necessary, disciplinarians. While Betas have an advantage in the social area, Alphas have a finely honed sense of cause and effect, and Gammas will be the most horrified at breaches of decorum.
As our cats learn to live in harmony, policing each other can be a valuable skill that gets passed on and reinforced in our Cat Civilization.
Just one more of the many reasons to love Cat Civilization.
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There’s more about multiple cats in The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See more posts on the MULTIPLE CAT ADVANTAGE.
