Our Cats Need Supervisory Training

In my work career, Ive had great supervisors and terrible ones. This morning, as Mary Ann was feeding the cats, I heard her say "So, you all are here to supervise my work, are you?" and I realized how insightful that comment was. Not only do they act like supervisors during food preparation times, but they are pretty poor at the job. Let me show you what I mean.

I should say one thing in their behalf - feeding time to them is like a publication deadline with a major story still being finalized - high stress, very important, and fear of a poor outcome.

Since I "work" with these cats every day, and I dont want to hurt our relationship, I've changed their names in this story to protect their identities. "Flower Stuff" is probably the best of the lot, but by saying that I really mean she is the least worst. She stays close, watches our work carefully, is in the way whenever we turn around, sends out body language vibes but is less of a proactive bad supervisor in other ways.

"Clucky" cant help himself. He has to know what is going on, and gets real frustrated if he cant be right there. When this impulse overcomes his better sense, he is right in the middle of things, checking every little detail and constantly getting in the way. He is like the supervisor who feels that he needs to check every little thing you do, and is so much in the way that the product delivery is delayed and tempers get short.

"Charley" is in the middle. He does emit the aura of the supervisor, and exerts his rights to monitor what is going on. For the most part, he stays out of arms reach (barely) and silently observes, but when he senses that his portion of the work is almost done, he swoops in to check and be sure. He does know that this is all disruptive, and is willing to observe from a distance but he does this from a strategic view slightly above our work surface where our every move is under his gaze, and he cant resist that final check. At least he does just check the product and then goes on to wait for delivery, confident that our work is just about finished.

Since 'Charley's" work product is delivered first, 'Clucky' and "Flower Stuff" run in and check the work, and if they approve cautiously see ifthey can use "Charley's" product. THen, as they realize their own products are being delivered, they are constantly underfoot, slowing the delivery of their own end products. A little bit of chaos ensues as they check to be sure that the other's product isnt preferable (it NEVER is, but they check anyway) and then they settle in, accepting their own product.

I suppose then its time for our coffee break as we finally have the bosses off our backs!

One final note lest you think that this is as simple a process as it should be. Our feeding routine is complex and requires a deft touch, for nothing in our household is done the easy way. It involves 5 feeding bowls, two types of food (wet and dry) three flavors - two of which must vary every day and cant be the same, one voracious mouth that will eat only one thing but goes at it full force, one voracious mouth that will eat anything as long as its seafood IN GRAVY and isnt the same as the last time, and one who is terribly skinny and while acting hungry doesnt seem to want much of anything. We also have to make sure that there isnt fighting and that "Charley" lets others eat their fill before he eats their food too. For the most part, Charley doesnt allow food to sit around and be munched on throughout the day. In fact, he likes his wet food best and eats it immediately, and protects it. When he finishes, he then goes and checks to see if anything is left ot the others foods, sometimes waiting for them (or most likely us) to get out of the way. He will then eat their leftovers, and eat their dry food first, saving his dry food for after he finishes theirs. While they all act like the three little piggies before a meal, only 'Charley' and Clucky' eat their food like there is no tomorrow, and only 'Charley' keeps at it until its all gone.

So even in retirement we are just like you with bad, untrained supervisors getting in our way as we try to do the right thing for them. But at least we love our little supervisors...