We have a game in our house which is similar to Russian Roulette, except you play it with a cat. Whenever Pilchen goes onto the second level of her fortress of solitude to scratch, as she has in this picture …

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… it’s customary for someone to tap their hand on the third level, until she’s overcome with an urge to kill, and at some unexpected moment leaps up with claws out, and maybe (if you’re very unlucky) sinks one or more into your hand.

I’ve played this game more times than I like to remember, bear scars from my last losing round, but still spent more than five minutes last night, and this afternoon tapping away, then leaping backwards (possibly with a loud obscenity) as Pilchen finished the game in the only way she knows how. I’ll also add James and Ria both love to play as well. Miss M is smart enough to understand it will only end in tears, so is content to watch and laugh (and sometimes shriek) as the human gets either hurt or freaks out.

There’s a variation when Pilchen goes behind the couch, then leaps up with much the same result. If you play after she consumes raw meat, it’s even more dangerous. Is that a deterrent? Not in my house, baby.

Today I’m loving: my lunchtime yoga attendees, especially Jennifer