Uh-oh! The cat vs snowflake battles begin. [View all]

[wnylib]

Now that snow is falling, my cat, Ember is patrolling the window. It happens every winter.

Like most cats, she loves window browsing on the outside world. The inside window ledge is roomy enough to hold her. Ordinary snow showers that fall in a straight direction get a warning stare, but she doesn't move into action until the whirly flurries begin. Those are rhe larger flakes that swirl in all directions, up, down, sideways, and in loops and circles, often banging up against the window. To Ember, that is a personal affront that requires retaliation.

BAM! A right paw slams the window. Then a left. Then the upright position, both paws battering the pane. POW! POW! Take that you rogue snowflakes. If only I could reach through the glass I would capture the whole lot of you.

But of course she can't. The glass holds up, thank God, because my apt is on the 5th floor of my building. But her strength and persistence worry me. She races from one end of the ledge to the other in mad pursuit while I rush to remove plants to a safe location. The vertical blinds sway and clang against each other.

She can't stop herself, even though the flakes are outside her reach. She is hard-wired to chase things that move.

I distract her with toys but in seconds she is back at the window. I close the blinds so she can't see out. She pushes her nose between them.

I lift her away with soothing words and lots of petting. More distraction with her favorite videos. There is one that is specially designed for cats which she loves. But she will watch scenes from other movies, too. I think she considers them an alternate window view of the world. The blinds remain shut and the battle of the snowflakes fades in her memory. I sigh in relief and go back about my businesd -- until the next time.