I’m sure the behavior in this video, of a cat absolutely determined not to let her human get a second of studying in, is familiar to everyone who has the privilege of serving a feline:
The cat grabs at the pen, tries to chew on it, covers the book with her body, nibbles on the pages and plays pretty much every trick in the feline book to get her human to stop what she’s doing and engage in some good old Cat Time.
Or more bluntly, she’s saying: “NO STUDY, HUMAN! PAY ATTENTION TO ME!”
I never gave much thought to how students fare with cats but I know writing by hand is pretty much out of the question for me. Bud just won’t let me do it. Either he’s trying to bite the pen or he’s swatting at it with his paws, making my normally neat handwriting look like that of a deranged person demanding ransom or the work of someone stupidly drunk.
I’ve got a tradition of sketching scenes on birthday cards and other things I send to my nieces by snail mail, and Bud must be secured in another room before I can even attempt it.
Same deal with music, unfortunately. If I’ve got a guitar in my hands, little dude tries to cut in with a blazing, discordant solo of his own. Cat claws and guitar strings do not mix. If I’m using my synthesizer, Bud decides we’re going to do a duet by walking across the keyboard and yowling.
I’ve actually sat hunched at my computer for hours trying to stitch together guitar solos from several different takes because they were going swimmingly until Mr. Bud cut in with a paw and a claw, and trying to fix rhythm tracks that were perfect until Buddy the Destroyer decided 4/4 should become 5/8 or a particular chord progression should be interrupted with an accidental bit of guitar dubstep. Thank God for non-destructive digital editing in modern music production! Musicians in the days of analog multitracks must have had to put their felines under lock and key before attempting to record anything.
Do your cats stop you from doing stuff? What are their methods?
Pain In The Bud 
Very funny and very true- I am a drummer and besides playing live with a band (unfortunately with no feline members) I practice at home – the kit is electronic and Bella will immediately occupy the drum stool if I decide to take a break from some difficult track I am trying to play and record along with. This immediately indicates: 1. Play with me, 2: I want snacks or 3: simply admire and worship me. Bertie on the other hand is completely unbothered by the kit and simply sleeps in the drum room. He knows that when I open the door to leave then that’s the time to get active and run downstairs next to me as snacks will be on offer!
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“Feed me snacks on the snare, human. And a one, a two, a one two three four…”
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My cat gets on living room table and sits on the household bills. When i start to sit on kitchen chair he jumps on it. Almost sat on him. Sits under Christmas tree cotton part and waits for his presents. One year could not find my baby Jesus ornament. Should i come back later with more of his antics? Sure there are more. I just need some coffee.
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Did he steal Jesus to take his spot in the hay and swaddling blankets in the nativity scene?
“Move along, baby Jesus, kitty needs a nap!”
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My cat is about 3 times bigger than my nativity display. So no. Naps just on cotton. Baby Jesus is about an inch. But i did find baby Jesus in room. My cat was playing with it like a toy.
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I have a history of cats trying to occupy keyboards and other computer space as well as my old drawing table. A few have actually made good editors.
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Ramses is stubborn, defiant, and will not hesitate to take a swipe at my hand should I DARE to scoot him off the desk.
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I’ve certainly had cats who “help” with every little thing. Tyler takes a more laid back approach, only yowling incessantly for attention when the mood hits him.
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That’s very gentlemeownly of Tyler. Maybe I should send Bud to him to learn manners.
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I’ve learned to do stuff that might be dangerous to cats when they’re sleeping. It works pretty well because they have very strict sleep times. Only when I do very sensitive stuff like using a sewing machine do I close the door.
The cats are afraid of the machine and yet they will explore it – can’t have that.
One of my cats likes to drape himself in my arms when I read. It’s not terribly comfortable but I cherish the closeness.
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