The Roll-Over, Bimini Bounce, Sleeping with Cats
11 February 2006 | San Carlos, MX
by Cheryl
The Roll-Over
The other morning as I was in our v-berth (bed) lying on my side facing the side of the boat when Hilo jumped into the v-berth with us and stood at my back. I tried to get him to climb over me and cuddled up against me like he likes to too but he just sat there for a bit before pawing at the blanket on my shoulders. When he stopped I tried to coax him over again but he just started pawing the blanket again. He had never done this before so I rolled over to see what was up with him and the minute I did he cuddled up 'under my chin' (1/3 of him on my pillow, 1/3 on my arm, 1/3 on my boob). I guess he was pawing at me to get me to turn over so he could cuddle in his favorite spot.
'Bimini Pounce':
Hilo likes to hang out on top of the bimini (I figure it is like a huge hammock for him) so when you come out or go down below and bump your head into the top of the bimini, Hilo pounces on your head (through the fabric). He doesn't use his claws so it is fun. Then there's a missing grommet so there is a hole where the bimini and dodger meet and he likes to stick his paw through and try to get you, again when you're going in and out (and without using his claws).
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Sleeping w/Cats
When it does cool off at night Hilo will jump into bed with us. I woke up the other night with him wedged in between Scott and I, which of course is normal but Scott & I think we humans are just big, heated mattresses for cats but we like it when he snuggles. The v-berth on our boat is about 4 feet off the ground with a 2 foot wide opening to get in, even we have a hard time getting into it sometimes. Hilo seems to have varying confidence regarding making the big jump into bed with us so mostly he'll give some meows before he jumps. We like to think he is warning us incase our head is in the way but we think he is really trying to syke himself up. The first couple of times he tried to jump up he didn't quite make it. I would look over to see him hanging on by his claws so I took to just grabbing him by the scruff of his neck and pulling him up. Other times he clears it with no problem. When we had to quarantine off the v-berth while we were varnishing a bulkhead there Scott and I slept in the main saloon for a week. It was a slumber party but it drove Hilo crazy that he couldn't get into the v-berth and jump out through the forward hatch. When we finally got to move back in Hilo took his mid morning nap in the v-berth then slept with us that night. It wasn't even cool so he didn't snuggle but slept on top of a folded up fleece blanket, his favorite.