Blackie the Thermometer
Woman in the Middle | February 7, 2013I think I have mentioned before that Blackie the cat sleeps in the garage. He has his whole life. We provide a comfy bed, water, a liter box, and a fascinating machine that gives him food at a pre set time every morning. In the summer we carefully air the place out every evening so it will be comfortable for him and in the winter we place something warm in his bed so he won’t be cold.
This winter we had quite a cold stretch there a few weeks ago and Eldest Daughter decided that Blackie couldn’t sleep in the garage because it was too cold. We told her he could sleep inside only if he slept with her. So, over the last month or so, Eldest invites Blackie to share her bed if it is particularly cold. We figured Blackie would become one spoiled kitty very quickly and would never want to sleep in the garage (or “Blackie’s boudoir, as we like to call it) ever again. We forgot to take into account an old cat’s preferences and routines.
For the first few very cold nights Blackie happily slept on Eldest’s bed, usually on Eldest, actually. The first night it returned to being warm Eldest brought Blackie into her room again but soon he wanted back into his boudoir. Since them we have seen a direct correlation between the outside temperature and where Blackie would like to sleep. It is really pretty fascinating.
Below 40 or so and Blackie will stay in Eldest’s room until at least 6 a.m. and has been known to stay in bed with her as late as 8 a.m.
At 40 to about 45 degrees Blackie usually wakes up about 2 or 3 a.m. and wants to go the garage.
Above 45 degrees or so and Blackie only makes it for an hour and then wants back out to his normal sleeping place.
So now, in addition to feeding him, cleaning his litter box, brushing him, cleaning up fur balls and other things he hacks up, giving him his laxative (he has a constipation problem) we now have to gauge the temperature to determine his maximum sleeping comfort. But it is all good. We wouldn’t want out kitty to be unhappy!
Blackie in his favorite cold weather sleeping spot, in Eldest Daughter’s bed and on Eldest Daughter!
The SITS Girls
My cats were appalled when they read this. The garage they said? The cat sleeps in the garage? I think they are on the phone with your local animal cruelty society. You may be arrested and charged. I am happy that my cat doesn’t make me sleep in the garage! Of course, I feed them 12 times a day, 2 injections to Mr Diabetic cat and an occasional probiotic pill to Miss Prolific Pooper. The third one insists that I listen to her babbling conversation. Oh, did I mention that happens at 3 a.m.? You have it made!
Blackie is happy as long as he has food. He isn’t one of those cuddly cats, except when it is a little chilly. So tell your kittys it isn’t as bad as it sounds…Like I said, he actually wants to be in the garage.
Our cats sleep in the barn. We do have one that thinks it is her privilege to come in the house every morning for milk, then stay in the rest of the day. She is patiently waiting for me to open the door as we speak.haha
Well, Eldest Daughter was right – it IS too cold in the garage for Blackie when it is below 40 degrees.
Oh, I agree! the funny thing is we have had a hard time convincing him at times. I am not sure how long he stayed in the house last night. I will have to ask Eldest. I just know he wasn’t in her room when I got up this morning…
I wonder what she did to convince him.
When you live with a cat it becomes apparent very quickly that the humans in the house are the ones who become trained. The cats slowly manage to manipulate us into doing whatever it is they want.