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The piano that taught my cat to play for her supper

The piano that taught my cat to play for her supper

The pianist sits before her instrument. She carefully extends a front paw, pressing gingerly on a key. She presses again, and again. She is composing some soul music, because something terrible has happened to her: The vacuum cleaner has come out of the closet. Yes, my cat is a tortured artist. When...

A tuxedo cat loafing under a dining room chair.
The artist, in a moment of quiet contemplation. | Photo by Elizabeth Lopatto / The Verge

The pianist sits before her instrument. She carefully extends a front paw, pressing gingerly on a key. She presses again, and again. She is composing some soul music, because something terrible has happened to her: The vacuum cleaner has come out of the closet.

Yes, my cat is a tortured artist. When Jeeves is moved by something that upsets her - say, I have gotten up when she was comfortable sitting in my lap - she goes to her piano and plays a brief melody. And then the piano dispenses treats. At night, she prefers to sleep on me. If I wake up to pee, disturbing her, my bathroom visit is accompanied by a moonlight serenade.

She hasn't mas …

Read the full story at The Verge.