Like a violin....

[Miles]

....he plays me...
Ribbons is such a little lady, and sooo well-behaved...you tell her "no" - and she stops...you say "Ribbons - get down, sweetie.."...and...she gets down...no stalling, no whining, no grumbling...a perfect little angel....
Bailey....aahhh....Bailey...is *all* boy.....you tell him "no"...and it's a challenge to him.....you say "BAILEY - get down...!"...he'll take a few more forbidden steps...watching you...
Oh, I KNOW what he's thinking.."he hasn't gotten up yet, so I'm ok..."..."BAILEY...!!  you KNOW you're not supposed to be up there....GET DOWN...NOW....!!!"..."uh-oh...he's getting up..."...
Sometimes....you just want to...you just want to.....AARGggghhh (!!).....and I pick him up - "BAILEY...HOW MANY TIMES do I have to tell you...??!"...and he looks at me...and purrs..and buries his head in my neck..."one of these days...I swear.....you're such a BAD kitty....if you weren't soooo....soooo...*purrr purrrrpurrrrr*.....yes, Daddy loves you too, you silly bad boy....geeeezzzz....!!!!"
And I KNOW...he's looking over at Ribbons....and winking....

Miles

[Ann]

And it only gets worse!

I love the absolute trust they have that you wouldn't hurt them, no matter what they do, but murder has nearly been committed many times in this house over the years.

Ann

[Linda_Wells]

Miles, this sounds VERY familiar.
Ann, you have never met Peaches!
Absolute trust? I just have to LOOK at her and she runs away. Trimming her fingernails? She thinks she's being murdered judging by the yells and screams (not to mention the bites and scratches). Mind you, only Peaches and Saffie out of my lot KNOW what 'No!' means.
Linda

[Ann]

Linda,

I have to admit that if I'd tried to trim Alexander's claws I'd have been marked for life. Any attempt to look closely at any of his extremities and you could see the thought of amputation without anaesthetic going through his mind.

The boys on the other hand are placid to a fault. Dracs is quite amazing. I've come across some soppy cats over the years, but he's something else again.

Ann

[Silk]

All five of mine know what NO! means, (even Felia and she's deaf) but it doesn't mean any of them take ANY notice of it.
I think to them no means:
"I know you would rather I didn't do this, but who asked your opinion anyway?"