Saké Builds a Fort

Anyone who has studied history can tell you the importance of building your fort near a water supply. Evidently Saké has learned that lesson.

Setting Traps

Saké was at it again the other day. She moved items around the lower level of the cage to form a barrier along the front, and then flattened herself out on the other side of it, waiting for a victim to come along.

Waiting patiently...

I felt bad that after all of her hard work, there wasn't anyone around for her to jump out at, so I went and found Penelope. Unfortunately Penn was asleep when I found her, and as anyone who has a cat knows, just because you move a sleeping cat doesn't mean they will actually wake up.

Sleepy Penelope is unimpressed.

I finally just held Penn up in front of the cage and as soon as she sniffed at Saké's creation, Saké jumped out of hiding and smacked her nose through the cage. Penn was less than enthused.

Forts are Fun

I have mentioned before the girls' tendency to build forts. They pile lots of things at the front of their cage and then hide behind the structure, jumping out at whoever happens along.

The girls with their fort.

A closer look.

When it is a cat who happens by first, the girls generally jump out at it, usually startling it (and if Penelope is the cat in question, usually causing her to fall off the dresser). When it's Dave or I, they instead climb quickly over the fort to say hello.

Hiding isn't fun if it means you might miss out on a Cheerio!

A Happy Update...and a Fort!

Earlier this month I posted information on the Weavers, an Alabaman family active in guinea pig and rat rescue who lost their house in the April storms that ripped the state apart (bentorats.blogspot.com/2011/05/perspective.html). The Weavers are slowly rebuilding their lives, and I was happy to read an update on their rebuilding efforts (along with great pictures of their surviving guinea pigs and dog.)

In other news, Saké is often rambunctious in the morning. Today she did everything she could to capture anyone's attention, including building a fort at the front of the cage.

Saké's fort

Unfortunately, no one was around to play with her. Usually Penelope sits at the cage and Saké uses the fort to hide and then jump out at Penelope (once startling her so much Penn fell off the side of the dresser). This morning though, only Parker (first introduced at bentorats.blogspot.com/2011/03/rest-of-crew-pt-1.html) was around, and while he was watching closely from the ground, he knows he isn't allowed to get to close to the girls. Saké finally gave up and headed up to bed, but not before using some bedding to spin their nest a full 180 degrees. Sushi was asleep inside and seemed a bit confused when she suddenly awoke after the spin, facing the opposite direction.

I'm sure Sushi will make up for it tonight though, when she's wide awake and Saké is trying to sleep.