I still have dreams about having the momcat Mister Mittens sitting shoulder to shoulder with her son Trouble and her daughter Shiloh for a photograph but herding cats to do something you want them to do is not likely to happen. I was just happy to catch three adult cats in the same place earlier today.

The huge gentle tomcat Trouble is happily snoring with a full belly.

Cats cannot lick their own heads or ears or parts of their necks. In a family group they tie up and slurp each other clean just like the momcat Mister Mittens and her daughter Shiloh are doing in this photo. These cats will play fight and scream and go at each other but then at times they are so peaceful and loving. And when they roll around on the floor in fights the fangs never break skin and the claws never break flesh. Mom has had her huge tomcat down with her fangs on his throat but she always backs off. And when he has had her straddled with his fangs in her throat she goes limp and he backs off. It's like they keep schooling each other to be feral if need be.

You could go nuts studying cat behavior. They tolerate the humans they live with but deep down in your drawers you understand that the cats merely tolerate you. They will accept petting and attention and oftentimes a cat like the formally feral Mister Mittens will jump into your bed and snuggle next to you in the dark for warmth. When you reach out in the dark to pet her you might catch a nip - she's there for sleep in a good bed up against your old warm carcass, not to make friends and be groped.