The proof is in the cat

I was pretty sure Sandy was here earlier today, when I was reading in the living room. So I read interesting bits of my book out loud for her, sharing just as we always did when we read in the same room. But I always wonder how much of it is wishful thinking, and how much is truly her presence.

When I'd set the book down and was preparing to practice Tai Chi, Nada jumped up on my shoulder. He'd apparently decided it was love-and-suckle time. (That time often coincides with my trying to accomplish something else.) I asked Sandy to call him, please, over to the sofa. A few seconds later he looked toward the sofa, looked back at me, and continued with his kneading. I inferred that he'd heard her but didn't see anyone on the sofa, so decided not to go. I asked her to call him from the kitchen. A short while later (30 seconds? Did she walk there?), he strains his head around my neck to look toward the kitchen, and then jumps off me and ambles that way. So I concluded that she really was here.

It's a service we performed for each other a lot when we were in different rooms and needed to distract the felines from whatever they were pursuing: "Hey, would you please call your cat!" I've used the cats several times as test subjects, with varying degrees of success. I try not to overdo it to see whether she's in the house - both because I don't want to turn her into a party game, and because I think the cats are disappointed when they follow the call and there's no snuggling or treat awaiting them. But it does please me when it works!