Little pitchers have big ears

As we said when we first adopted Meow Meow, we didn't want to change her name since she clearly recognized it was hers. She wouldn't exactly come when summoned, but she'd answer with a look and a chirrup (or a yowl if she wanted something and saw the opportunity to put in her request).


Last week, we figured out that Meow Meow knows when we're talking about her, even in her sleep.

After she's had her breakfast, Meow Meow usually spends the morning and afternoon snoozing in the kitty suite. And boy does she get her beauty rest -- sometimes we don't hear a peep out of her until evening. I shut the door part of the way to give her some privacy and to keep some of the noisier things I do (like loading the dishwasher) from disturbing her. When she wakes up, she works the door open and announces her presence before coming down to join the fun.

So Dieter came home early one afternoon, which isn't a usual thing for him (but a lucky one when it happens). We chatted in the kitchen for at least half an hour about random things -- the mail, groceries, weekend plans -- without a sound from the kitty suite. But then Dieter, unaccustomed to Meow Meow's midday absence downstairs, wondered where she was.

At the mention of her name, we heard a sudden scuffling overhead, then the door pulling away from its jamb. More scuffling, then the sound of little claws securing Meow Meow's landing on the balcony rail. "Mrowr!" she cried, as if to say, "You called?"

Clearly there will be no discussing birthday presents for her -- she turns four in February -- without evasive measures!