The cats KNOW.  The house and yard decorations are out, the cats are
told to keep out of stuff, the D-thing is kept either outside or out of
the room, and the Paw is schlepping around the house grumping about
having that old biddy make him decorate again.  Yep, its Kissamouse
time.  Time to greet the season, mooch food, steal eggnog, help wrap
presents, and dominate the social scene.

The other day I saw the cats use Speedy, usually called the d-thing, as
a toy.  He looked at QC, gave his little woo woo "I wanna play, please
play with me," greeting, and QC...swatted him in the face.  The d-thing
bounced away from QC right into Pine Cone's line of fire.  Pine Cone
took time to wind up his paw, and slapped the d-thing right on the nose.

Speedy, also known as the d-thing, bounced from Pine Cone to Sgt. Huey.
 Huey puffed up to three times his size and puffballed a paw across the
d-thing's muzzle.  Speedy spun around and found himself facing Grayling,
or whatever his name is.  Grayling, Smokey, or whatever his name is,
gave a wicked grin and arched his back.  The d-thing, who is quite
bright for one of his species, backed away from Smokey, Grayling, or
whatever his name is and backed into QC's claws.  QC has a three inch
paw spread.  All three inches went into the d-thing's hind end.  The
d-thing, also known as Speedy, ran down the hall and into forbidden
territory.

When Speedy bounced into our bedroom, Merlin, Berfert, and Tanada were
waiting for him at the door.  Our bedroom is off limits to d-things and
the cats KNOW this.  Speedy was rushed from three cats in front and four
behind him.  He leapt up and tried to spin in mid-air.

This maneuver is very possible for a cat.  However, Speedy is a d-thing,
and not a cat, no matter how much he may think he is one.  He came
crashing down in a heap.  Seven cats stalked in separate directions
satisfied with their afternoon's efforts.  Speedy scrambled up, walked
slowly into the living room, picked up his squeaky toy and waited for
one of the cats to triumphantly strut into the room.  When Pine Cone
did, Speedy squeaked his squeaky toy right behind PC.  Pine Cone is
better at landing on his feet than the d-thing, but then PC meant to
fall down on his butt.  Honest.

Pam S.