When I was a mother of young kids, I couldn't shut the bathroom door when I needed to go in there. They always gravitated from room to room with me so the bathroom was no different. If I did shut the door, they'd stand out there and wail. Cats are a lot like that, too. They follow me from room to room when they aren't in their afternoon sleep mode. The bathroom seems to be their particular favorite place to visit me. And if I shut the door, they will claw at the rug to try to get in.

Most the time it is Kaboodle that follows me in there first. She does her little 'chirrup' and comes over to my right side. And, naturally, I pet her. She is soft and fluffy and I love petting her. Have to admit, she's my favorite. Bill says we have the same personality. No doubt about it, I have more of a bond with her. She gets some heavy duty petting and chin rubbing as soon as she appears. And then she goes on the left side of me. They can't stay in one spot. They're always having to go back and forth. Ever notice? Then she sits with her feet regally planted in front of her body and her long fur spreading like a petticoat around her back legs. And she stares directly out the door.

I look and, of course, there is Dusky sitting with his face filling the bit of entrance that has been left by the door where Kaboodle had pushed through. Oh, that's another thing. Kaboodle is expert at opening doors if there is a small crack. Dusky and Butterball have never mastered the art.

So, Dusky is sitting there next in line to get in with me and the staring contest between her and him begins. He's an expert at giving the 'evil eye' and intimidating the other housebound cats into leaving the comfortable spot they've just settled into. I hate that about him but he keeps wanting to prove that he's the dominant cat. She might be his mother but even if she is he doesn't care.

Back to the bathroom... Kaboodle has the advantage. There's not enough space for Dusky to get past her so he has to sit outside the nearly closed door and be patient. But he doesn't have much patience. He invariably begins to edge into the bathroom. When he gets too close, Kaboodle lashes out. She's scored several times on his nose but he just doesn't learn. His need to dominate, or possibly his need to get there into the bathroom with me, is just too strong. He'll back off but I know he's lurking in the corners outside the door. Once Kaboodle has scared him off, she hunkers down and keeps watching. She knows he'll be back, just as I do. Usually she stays until she hears me flush and then she's outta there. But other times she gets tired of wondering where he is so she'll leave before I'm finished. Within moments of her exiting, Dusky comes right in. Of course, I can't resist giving him a good petting.

Bill has taught the cats to stand up on their haunches to get a petting from him. Dusky will do it endlessly because he is that needy for attention. Now, he's doing his trick to me while in the bathroom. We make a big fuss over him every time he sits up. First, because it is funny to see this fat cat sitting on his hind legs and his front paws held up wanting loving approval. All you can see is his big white belly. So, he sits up and then when he topples forward again, which can vary from a mere second to five seconds, we reach down and fuss over him and pet him vigorously. No wonder he keeps doing it repeatedly. I get a bit tired of it but he is persistent. He'll put a claw in my leg to get my attention. He doesn't do it hard but there is a little stick to it that is annoying. I have to admit that sometimes I just plain shut the damn door to get some peace.

The parade doesn't stop there. Butterball has to add himself to the mix. Not every time but nearly every time. A lot of the time he's the first one in the door. He stays upstairs a lot but uncannily as soon as he hears me going in the bathroom he'll fly down the steps and pop right in. If Kaboodle or Dusky is in there first, that doesn't bother him a bit. He comes right in. He's either bold or stupid. We tend to think the latter of him. Okay, maybe I could be kinder and say he's naive. He is definitely Kaboodle's son but he likes to try to intimidate her, too. Sometimes, I think he's wanting to play but Kaboodle takes it as pure hostility and runs and hisses. They were separated for four years while Amy and Todd lived elsewhere so I don't know how much memory there is for either of them about their previous relationship.

It is just endless, this parade of cats through the bathroom each time I go. I find it amusing most the time and it gives me a chance to give them a real good scritchy-scratchin'. It's usually Kaboodle first one in, then Dusky, then Butterball. But it can equally be either/or. They really are creatures of habit. Guess, I am, too.