Feline Friday: Possum Bells

Some of my faithful readers (maybe even all five of you!) may recall that a couple of years ago, I taught Lily to ring a bell for food. I tried a couple of different bell options at the time and found that Lily could most easily handle a cloth bag of jingle bells. She pushes the bag with her paw until it makes a jingle noise and I come running to dole out the tasty morsels. Tinsel has also learned to come to the kitchen when she hears the bells, although she doesn't ring them herself. This little routine is actually quite adorable and if you come to our house, we'll gladly give you a demonstration (much to Daughter's dismay).

For the past couple of years, Lily has been ringing the bag of bells regularly when she's hungry. In fact, she sometimes rings it so frequently that I have to put it out of reach.

Okay, we're coming to the point of today's post, so get ready...

A few days ago, I put Lily's bag of bells away due to Incessant Bell Ringing. That evening around dinner time, I heard "jingle-jingle-jingle" coming from the kitchen. Hmmm...What could that be? Lily's bag of bells was out of reach.

I rounded the corner and found Lily sitting in front of her food bowl where, much to my amazement, she was wiggling her POSSUM toy back and forth -- jingle-jingle-jingle!

Lily hadn't shown much interest in this new possum toy until she discovered the bell. Now she rings the possum AND the bag of bells -- whichever is more convenient for her, of course.

Here's the possum, up close and personal. Who knew he'd have such an important job to do?

And here's Tinsel, right on time. It seems she answers to Possum Bells, too.

Now when Lily first learned to ring a bag of bells for food, I have to admit I was pretty impressed. But I'm even more amazed at this new trick! Out of our vast array of cat toys, she singled out one with a bell quite on her own and -- in absence of her bag -- rang it, too.

Lily, you may go to the head of the class!