Feline mystique - What is my furry gal trying to do/say? [View all]

Ember has a fuzzy little wind up chicken (with hard plastic beak and feet) that became her comfort toy when she was barely 1 year old. She is 7 now and has been through several "Chickies" because I introduce a new one to her when the old one gets too dirty and broken to keep around.

She carries it around when she is distressed, e.g. when I leave home or sometimes when I'm in the shower.

She used to bring Chickie into bed to rest between Ember and me. Glad she stopped that because I got jabbed by the feet and beak when I rolled over.

Sometimes I came home to find Chickie in Ember's water dish. Never figured out if she was trying to bathe, drown, or baptize Chickie. She stopped doing that a couple years ago, but lately Chickie has been showing up in strange places again.

I came home from the grocery store a couple days ago to find Chickie in Ember's empty food dish. What was that about? Telling me to get food for Chickie? Or saying that she would eat Chickie if I didn't fill the dish? Later, I found Ember napping inside her carrier with Chickie beside her. Was the message, "Take us with you next time?"

This morning, I was out for about half an hour. When I came home, Chickie was in one of my sandals. Am I supposed to take Chickie out for a walk with me? Ember would never let herself be parted from Chickie while I was away, so does it mean, "Take us with you?"

Also, lately Ember has been watching my hand closely when I go out of the apartment. The door handle is the lever type, not a knob. A couple times she has stretched out her paw toward the door handle. It was a half-hearted stretch. If she wanted to, she could easily stretch and jump just enough to touch the lever. I keep the door locked now, just in case she decides to check on what's beyond that door.

Putting it altogether, I think Ember wants to go out with me and take Chickie along.