The Slice: Cats know a few tricks

Slice readers say felines employ varied tactics to get the attention of sleeping humans. “My older cats use the well proven ‘sit on the bladder’ method,” wrote Karen E. Swanson.

But her kitten, Owen, is an ear sucker. “While that sensation is skin-crawling, the kitten purr located that close to the ear canal is, well, like a chain saw.”

In other words, it works as a wake-up call.

Barb Beyenhof’s cat, Jinx, has a different approach.

“She climbs up on my pillow and picks at my eyelids with her claws,” wrote Beyenhof. “No sleeping through that one.”

Janet Culbertson’s cat, Pua, was another eye toucher. “Once opened, she would greet me with a breathy meow,” wrote Culbertson. “Her fish-breath immediately got my attention.”

Sande Paulson’s cat, Sam, will sit by her shoulder and lick Paulson’s eyebrows. “I can ignore it awhile if she licks with the grain,” wrote Paulson. “But if she licks contrary to how they grow, she has my immediate attention.”

Judy Kramer’s “Tiger” has been known to climb onto her sleeping form and walk the entire length of her body, culminating in a loud meow.

Margaret Redmond has a 9-month-old son. “The cat figured out that if she wants to go out in the middle of the night, all she has to do is scratch on the baby’s door,” wrote Redmond.

That wakes the baby and, well, you can guess the rest.

Vicky Kienholz’s trio of kittens basically run amok on and around the bed.

And Annie Edwards’ cat, Sushi, just bites her.

To be continued.

“Proposed nickname for the interchange where Spokane’s mythical North-South Freeway meets Interstate 90: Jeff Solomon’s suggestion has a perfect Northwest ring: “The logjam.”

“It will be a great ski season if …: “There isn’t one,” said George Robinson, who cheerfully noted that he’s getting too old to shovel snow.

“Slice reader Mary Kay Jones wonders: “Why is it that when the local news anchors call on a reporter for a ‘breaking story,’ the reporter, while waiting to speak, is nodding his or her head up and down like a bobblehead doll? All the stations seem to do this. What’s up with that?”

Mary Kay, that nodding is a nonverbal way of saying, “Yes, oh heavily promoted one, these scripted points you’re making while I wait my turn are nothing short of brilliant and illustrate once again why I am lucky to be working with a broadcast journalist of your stature and ratings power.”

Either that, or there’s been another budget cutback at the station and what you’re seeing really is a bobblehead doll.

“This is Buddy Lee, coming to you live from in front of the Spokane County Courthouse, where just six hours ago ….”

“Today’s Slice question: What Inland Northwest cleric delivers the most consistently thought-provoking sermons?