Secret Agent Cats

Around this time of year, pretty much without fail, two of our cats become secret agents and go undercover.  Deep, deep undercover.  I'm referring, of course, to Otto and Wanda and their quest for the heat.  Oh, Otto will usually sleep between my legs anyway, and Wanda is often snuggled up either against him, or against my side under my arm.  But during the Fall and Winter, they go into Super-Snuggle mode.  

Traditionally, Otto or Wanda will jump up on the bed announcing their arrival with some sort of vocalization.  Then they will stand right at the edge of the covers and look at them meaningfully until you oblige them and lift up the covers.  It's important to lift them up at least six inches over their heads, because they will not climb under there unless they can do it without touching the sheet to their backs.  (I have this theory that they have been the hapless victims of a static shock one time too many, and have learned that this just works better when they can move without touching the covers...On the other hand, if we're not around, they have no trouble getting under the covers all by themselves.)

Invariably, they crawl under the covers a few inches, and then they stop and wait, peering warily into the abyss of the dark under the covers.  What they expect to find under there, I have no idea.  Bears?  A hungry cougar?  Chupacabra, maybe?  Usually they just end up finding a couple of flannel-clad human legs and perhaps some slightly unfresh feet.  But still, they have to be sure.  So we sit there and hold up the covers, tent-like, so they can make absolutely certain there is nothing that will startle or harm them under there.  (Sometimes, when I'm really sleepy, I just give up, drop the covers, and let the Chupacabra do his worst.) 

What's really funny is if one of them is already under the covers and then the other one wants to join him or her.  Usually, the original squatter gets annoyed at the intruder and will snap or growl, sometimes causing the interloper to go scurrying backwards out of the covers.  Usually, that cat will get the last laugh by plopping on top of the one that chased them out.  Wanda's got a technique now where she will climb under there to meet Otto, then immediately give him a few loving licks on the head as a peace offering.  Usually, Otto is appeased and the snuggling can commence. 

Hmm...I wonder if that tactic would work on the Chupacabra?...