Here There and Everywhere

Expat currently living in Doha, Qatar

Qatteri Cat vs. Easter Egg Tree

The Qatteri Cat’s favorite toy is a Sakura Express Bag:

00qcsakurabag.JPG

But sometimes, when he needs exercise, we tease him. We put his white bear “baby” at the top of his scratching post:

00bearonpost.JPG

And the Qatteri Cat HATES that! He can’t bear it! He says “That’s just not right!” and within 30 seconds, he attacks the bear and brings – or knocks – him back down (that white blur at the bottom of the photo is the bear):

00qcthatsjustnotright.JPG

Now, he thinks our Easter Egg Tree is his new toy. (Remember the debacle with the Christmas tree?) I am working with him on this, not to bat at the eggs. So far, not so good:

00qceastereggtree.JPG

*Easter Egg trees have nothing to do with religion. Easter Eggs go a long way back and are related to Spring, to fertility, and probably to early pagan rituals. Same with bunny rabbits. In Germany, people used to put literally thousands of hand decorated eggs out on their trees as Easter approached, and we would walk around admiring everyone’s trees. It is more a cultural thing, not a religious thing.

March 18, 2007 - Posted by intlxpatr | Arts & Handicrafts, Cross Cultural, Easter, ExPat Life, Family Issues, Germany, Holiday, Humor, Kuwait, Living Conditions, Lumix, Pets, Photos | | 14 Comments

14 Comments »

  1. Funny cat :D (Meant in a good way of course)

    Easter Egg Tree is a completely cultural tradition. I never heard of an Easter Egg Tree until a couple of years back when I was at college.

    We do have the bunnies though and it’s always lovely when Easter approaches because of all the bunnies and the colored eggs that my mother would put around the house.

    I didn’t know Easter was so near?! :s

    And oh btw, the Easter Egg Tree you have there looks really nice :D

    Comment by kinano | March 18, 2007 | Reply

  2. Cute tom cat ;)

    Iran has the egg decoration tradition. It comes from an ancient Persian Hoilday celebrating the coming of Spring in March 21 called Nairoz :) Interesting how much the human kind has in common!

    Comment by ummel3yal | March 18, 2007 | Reply

  3. That cat really knows how to enjoy himself with all the “toys” you get him :]

    Comment by 3baid | March 18, 2007 | Reply

  4. hahaha i really enjoyed this post :P

    the first pic makes qatari cat look like an evil genius tho :P

    Comment by skunk | March 18, 2007 | Reply

  5. awww cute cat, i hate cats but the thing with the teddy bear is so cute hehehhe

    Comment by princess | March 18, 2007 | Reply

  6. Kinan – Easter, I believe, is April 8th for Roman tradition Christians, but the Orthodox Christians usually celebrate it on a different date.

    Glad you like the tree. I finally had to put it up high on a bookcase where QC can’t get at it . . .it was just too much temptation for him. :-)

    Comment by intlxpatr | March 19, 2007 | Reply

  7. Ummel3yal – The post just before this one was on a book that described Nairoz! Yes – we have more in common than we have differences. I would love to see Iranian decorated eggs! Do they decorate them cooked, or do they take out the contents and decorate?

    Comment by intlxpatr | March 19, 2007 | Reply

  8. 3baid – aren’t they funny? You can buy a cat an expensive toy, and he goes straight for the empty paper bag. Total hoot. Hope your prayer is answered; there are a lot of adorable kittens looking for homes right now. The one meant for you is sure to come along. Lucky little kitty!

    Comment by intlxpatr | March 19, 2007 | Reply

  9. SKUNK! I thought he looked evil, too! It’s just the early morning sunlight making him squint that makes him look a little malevolent.

    Comment by intlxpatr | March 19, 2007 | Reply

  10. Princess – hi sweetie! Glad to see you. :-) The teddy bear is my cat’s baby. When we go away, he cries, and carries his baby around. It’s funny and sad at the same time.

    Comment by intlxpatr | March 19, 2007 | Reply

  11. Cats and I; just don’t go well :s

    Comment by True Faith | March 19, 2007 | Reply

  12. True Faith – I grew up with cats. I cry when I see dead cats on the road. They are such sweet creatures; I can’t bear to see them neglected or abused.

    Comment by intlxpatr | March 19, 2007 | Reply

  13. What a darling!! Such sweet malevolence :P

    Comment by jewaira | March 19, 2007 | Reply

  14. J – that isn’t malevolence; he is just squinting in the sunlight! Honestly, he isn’t smart enough to be malevolent. He’s just a cat, doing what cats do. I finally put the Easter egg tree on a high bookshelf, because he couldn’t stay away from it – he has zero resisting-temptation skills.

    Comment by intlxpatr | March 20, 2007 | Reply


Leave a comment