Four months ago, when I posted Rusty the Cat: On Food and Treats, I didn’t know whether it would become a series, mostly because I wasn’t sure I would be able to get good cat pictures due to the combination of my work hours and lighting conditions. Little did I know that two weeks later our entire organization of work would change completely because of the shelter-in-place and everything that came with it. So, now I constantly get opportunities to capture my cat doing… whatever cats do to amuse themselves, annoy their humans or just pass time.
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I knew for a while that a normal body temperature for cats was higher than for people. So, it was logical for me that in colder season Rusty favored my or my vSO’s lap to just laying on a chair or one of his mats. What was rather unexpected, even in summer, in the middle of a very warm day, while I would be working in my second-floor office – one of the warmest places in our house, instead of staying on the cool first floor, Rusty would come up and plop himself on my lap, clearly enjoying it (and I would be dripping with sweat).
Sometimes, Rusty would place himself on a blanket next to my work laptop in such a way that one of his paws would touch or be really close to the laptop’s vent. The air that comes out of it is so hot that it is hard for me to keep my hand next to it. But Rusty doesn’t seem to mind (the highlighted text on the picture below is what actually was shown on the monitor: I was going through the security training course and had to stop to take a picture because I thought that it was a hilarious illustration).
But recently Rusty overdid himself: during one of the hottest days of the week (it was ~27C/81F in the house) he discovered wonders of my vSO’s laptop: being connected through the docking station to the external monitor and keyboard, it works with the closed lid, which is warm to touch. So, Rusty figured out that it was a perfect spot, from where he could hypnotize one of us while waiting to be fed after the end of the work-from-home day. Now he’s doing it almost daily.
We discussed with my vSO that, as Rusty gets older, at some point we’ll probably have to get him a bed with a built-in heating pad. But we’re worried a little that he’ll dump us and spend all time in bed.
Images: my own
Undina's Looking Glass 
He is the cutest cat EVER! I adore you’re Rusty. Treat him for me please.
Secretly, Jin would sit on a laptop if it was big enough and warm. He sleeps with the heater on for 4 or 5 months a year. I have to go to the spare room because I just can’t.
Portia xx
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I’m probably a secret cat as well: I sleep with a hitting pad at least 6 months a year (and it’s in our climate! ;) ).
Rusty is being spoiled by both of us. I’m a little worried how he’ll feel once we return to work from office (sounds like a foreign idea ;) ).
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Rusty is gorgeous! My cats adored their heated cat bed, which I put under a lamp with a 100 watt bulb in it. Cats love to fry themselves. :-)
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He is! I agree :)
So, I think Rusty will be getting a heated bed for this (or the next) Christmas/Birthday.
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My kitties always liked it warm. The only time I ever saw my cats lying on a cold tile floor for relief from the heat was when I lived in Miami and we had no A/C for an entire month after Hurricane Andrew. 90 degrees Fahrenheit was too much for the kitties, especially my fluffy Maine Coon boy Jet. But as long as it was 80 degrees F. or less in the house they were on someone’s lap or chest or in the bed with us. There were no laptops back then. :-))
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90 degrees without an A/C… Well, I lived through that until my late 20s, but now it’s hard to imagine… I need to be at least 20 year younger and 20 pounds lighter to survive that :) But yes, it looks like Rusty doesn’t mind some heat.
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Ahaha! This is just hillarious. Rusty doesn’t stop to amaze not only you but also us. To place himself on a warm laptop when it’s so hot inside (and even hotter outside probably). Who would’ve though…
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Today was another hot day. Fearing for my perfumes more than for anything else, I turned on the A/C… Rusty spent another hour on my vSOs laptop. Then, before going outside for a walk, I covered him with the cashmere sweater that I donated to him a while ago – and when we came back, complaining how stuffy it felt inside after a walk outside, he was still sleeping under the cover :)
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Anything Rusty does is just perfect. As with all cats, they do their thing and we have to live and comply with their needs. Actually, I would not have it any other way.
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I think it is a part of cats’ charm, which is a great survival strategy.
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Love your Rusty. He may love warmth but he is one “cool cat”.
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It’s a nice compliment :) I’ll reward him with a treat from you.
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Superb. I can’t get over the perfect aptness of text to outstretched cat.
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I knew you’d appreciate it! :)
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Rusty always cheers me up and that first photo is priceless!
I can relate as I feel the cold too. Not in 27 degrees though haha.
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Rusty is a constant source of positive emotions for both of us, which is very important in times of uncertainty, and we appreciate it and try to make his life as enjoyable as possible.
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Ha! Ha! What a crafty and charming cat.
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Stay cool Rusty.
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