Signs of the Seasons

Ah our loving pets. The little things they do to entertain us or annoy us? Think about the little things they do or habits they will change according to the change in seasons.

Right now it's fast turning into winter conditions here. Last week was still warm though. Welcome to New Mexico! Wait a bit and the weather will change. We woke up to snow this morning. Of course it's still too warm for the snow to stick on the ground yet, but the trees and shrubs had a nice coat of fluff. Then it melts. However, at 5:30 in the morning, my crew of chihuahuas have watched the snow come down over the night, and refuse to go outside. MOM! It's white, cold and wet out there! We can't possibly do our business out there! So I put them out, they stand at the door and wait and yell to hurry up and get the cats fed so they can come right back in and eat. Ah but they forgot that I put them out again right after eating. Ha! Crap, they are more stubborn than I am. They won't leave the porch and looking in through the sliding glass door. The old man, Lil'Shit stands there looking in blindly, shivering, and whining. Ok, I'm no hard heart, I give in.

Ok, so perhaps I should have noticed before the little changes in them and their habits before this snow hit and it got cold. Besides the usual fur growth. The dogs are adamant about cuddling and arguing over the best cushy warm spot or who gets to whom first to be held in warm arms. Lil' Shit is worshipping the sun more than usual, almost like he's trying to get his winter supply of vitamin d in a hurry. And then when it's time to put them to bed in their kennels, they give you the total sad puppy package like you are sending them to their doom. Despite the fact they have blankies in their kennels.

The cats, they are quicker than we are about getting into bed when it's bed time. And you can forget taking your time to get comfy before they are piled on you, and kneading their nest. And now instead of getting out of bed when you do, if you get up, they are extremely fast to migrate to the warm spot you left in the bed under the covers.  Although they will migrate to the bathroom while you shower for all that lovely humidity and warmth the shower creates. Then it's hurry up and feed us mom so we can go back to the warm bed when hubby gets up.

If you sit down for very long anywhere in the house that has more space than your office chair, you will probably have a cat on one side, a cat behind your head, and at least one if not 2 of the 3 dogs.

As long as it's not snowing or raining, the dogs will enjoy being outside. But they certainly  hate to be wet, but they won't stand under the picnic table to stay dry, oh no, not them, they have to stand under the drip edge of the roof, right at the door, get soaked and look pitiful. Little dogs.... they certainly have their own mindset.

On the subject of change in the spring.....

First,the evenings are different, when getting ready for bed at night and you head into the bathroom and there is the empty sink you intend to turn on to wash your face and in less than one minute you had an empty sink, then you turn to get your washcloth, turn back around and find your sink is filled with a cat. And then when you gently shoo him out and turn on the tap you get this horrified look from him that you just desecrated his cool bed. And then he proceeds to pout for a bit until the sink is dried enough to be acceptable to be a bed again.

Or being all dressed and ready (or so you thought) for work in the morning, sans pet hair (although you get this in the winter too, it's not as bad). You are enjoying your morning coffee and reading material, one of your furkids (doesn't matter who) climbs up next to you, or on one leg for a bit of petting. All fine right? Well you get to work and notice that you have enough hair attached to you to make a whole other animal! (Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated!)

Then there were the sun worshipers during the fall and winter, who loved to lay in the sunbeams, only now they drink water like a fish and avoid long periods in the sun like little vampires.

All the furkids think that the new things budding and blooming are for tasting. Thereby hacking up furballs, or grass bits into the oddest places. And the cats desperately try their best to escape the house to get at all those bright green things and fluttering birds. Thereby providing you with more exercise in one weekend than you've probably had all winter, just trying to catch the escapees.

And last but not least (so far), the kitties, ah yes, kitties..... Spring is here when Kitty TV has all their favorite channels (more birds mom! and they're here earlier!) Which entails some pretty interesting kitty lingo at 4:30 or 5am. Sounds you haven't heard for months, suddenly seem very out of place and will wake you out of a dead sleep. And due to all the noseprints on the glass, you are using your windex at least every other day so you can see out of it.

So, how do your pets tell you the seasons are changing? I'd love to hear!