The house feels empty without the Christmas kittens, especially Jake, the last to go.  But, our five adult cats are ecstatic to have normalcy (read, the entire household catering to them) return.  Roberto has not completely forgiven us, nor do I think he truly believes that he’s seen the last of Jake, but he’s at least sleeping on the bed again rather on top of the wardrobe.
    Roberto’s strategy for dealing with the kittens was to stay outside from early morning to night, when he couldn’t possibly stay out another minute because of the cold or because he got fed up with the repeated entreaties from the front porch.  In the morning, as soon as the first foot hit the floor he had his nose in the crack of the front door.  Roberto, you see, suffers under the delusion that if he stares at the front door handle long enough, the door will open.  It’s interesting to note that he knows it’s the handle, not the door, that’s the key.  
    I say this is a delusion but when he crouches underneath the door handle, every muscle at the ready, staring upward, concentrating, the door does almost always open.  Who wants to argue with a cat about causation?
    Before the kittens came, Roberto would go in and out during the day, exploring around the house and then coming in for frequent naps.  As soon as he saw those kittens, though, he panicked.  “Let me OUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT.”  He yeowled.  “Nowwwwwwwwwwwwww.”
     I do think Roberto may well be the craziest cat we own.  We call him our “autistic” cat for many reasons.  One reason is that almost the only social interaction he has with us aside from rubbing against our legs when he’s gearing up to eat, is asking for kitty treats.  But, he loves his kitty treats.  He will come and sit right in front of you when he wants a treat, staring into your face.  If that doesn’t work, he reaches out with one paw and pats you on the shoulder or arm.  If, after asking politely, he still doesn’t get a treat, he grabs you with his claws for emphasis.  I hate to admit this being the one who raised him, but Roberto has a wee anger management problem.  
    I have tried to model his behavior away from the grabbing, with some success.  He now escalates from patting to demonstrative head butting.  If he gets his way then, he refrains from the grabbing.
    The funniest thing I have discovered about Roberto, after the purchase of many bags of Tartar-Control kitty treats, is that if I substitute regular cat food (which he can eat anytime on the kitchen floor) for the treats, he doesn’t know the difference.  All I have to do is put regular cat food in a small baggie and hand it out to him one kibble at the time like I would the treats.  He’s completely happy.  
    It’s endearing really.  It’s the interaction he craves not the kitty treat.