by Lorelei Cohen

Created on: July 01, 2007   Last Updated: July 22, 2009

Cats are known to be very Territorial at the very best of times, but my old cat has definite ideas on what is her territory, and she defends her kingdom with everything that her little heart holds within it. I am quite sure that she has an imaginary boundary fence built around her property. She guards it with such a vengeance. Our entire front and back yards are both definitely her turf and all other cats in the neighborhood have learned this from experience. They are very much aware that she does not like to have her property touched by other kitty paws. She likes to rule her kingdom alone.

While in the back yard she will usually lie up on on our patio table so she can comfortably survey her turf and insure that no intruders dare to encroach. I swear she sleeps with one eye always open so that at the slightest sound, she can leap from her perch, and attack.

When in the front yard she will sit at the very far corner of our lawn. As though guarding her realm, and almost like a lighthouse light, her head will turn either direction every few minutes. We are sure that this is just so she can keep an eye on what is going at either end of her property.

We've all grown quite used to the fact that she rules the roost outdoors; but we still have a few issues to sort out when it comes to her ideas on what exactly is her indoor territory.

My cat and I have very different views on territory and territorial rights within the house. I work from home and spend the greater part of my days at my little desk and on my computer. Other than cat nap time, my kitty spends an almost equal amount of time at my desk. This is not a good thing! At the present time it is almost like a war zone here as we battle over what is her territory and what is mine. I'm not quite sure who is winning but it seems to be pretty "Even Stevens" at the moment?

I have won the right not to come in and find her napping on my keyboard. She has won control of the mouse pad. There seems to be nothing I can do to win back that little 18cm square plot of land. So I have pretty much conceded defeat on that one. She sits on her padded little cushion grinning at me while I maneuver my optical mouse in front of her.

The printer is another area of the desk that is still under debate between the two of us. I believe I should have full rights to it, but she believes that any papers exiting it are hers to attack, and shred into a gazillion little pieces.

Pens, paper-clips and erasers are also still under discussion, although I think I may be losing ground on that one! She is under the impression that they should be under the desk while I believe they should be on it. I have no idea where she gets her logic from?

So while I get ready for another serious round of negotiations she is busy weaving back and forth in front of my computer screen. She is probably contemplating her next move, and as she was outside earlier eating grass, that is one very scary thought. Darn cats and their definition of territorial rights.

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