Covid lockdown: Are pet cats getting sick of people hanging around at home all day? – Hayley Matthews

Hayley Matthews’s cat Joey has been acting strangely and she’s starting to think that noisy and boisterous humans are disrupting his secret life.

Does Joey have his pals round when nobody's home like the cats and dogs in The Secret Life of Pets?

I’d mentioned a few weeks ago that my cat Joey had not come in for a good few weeks then just as I was typing my column, he came strutting in and had a bit of fish supper.

I took him to the vet as he’d lost a lot of weight and I was concerned, but he’s all good and his bloods are fine.

And then I noticed he peed up against the litter tray. The one my mum’s cat uses with pride.

I thought Joey was maybe unhappy at the additional litter tray or the extra cat staying with us but they’ve lived in harmony before so I’m left confused.

Joey is clearly on a dirty protest about something and there’s only one other thing I think it could – the lockdown. I wonder if he doesn’t like us being indoors because we’re invading his personal space – cats are funny that way.

So I’ve come to the conclusion that it is in fact that we’re all indoors and have been for the last six months that’s pee-ing him off! We’re noisy, loud and busy all day and I don’t think my cat is happy with us being home.

I have visions of him having parties when we’re all out like they do in The Secret Life of Pets (pictured).

I can just imagine him now inviting all the other cats round that live on our street, them all bringing over some beers, putting on disco tunes, raiding the fridge and jumping all about the sofa!

Gosh, maybe it’s me who needs to get out more.

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