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(Actually, I learned that cats are 'crepuscular', here on TCS,...since I always thought they were nocturnal. Nope.I will see how long T keeps up being endlessly energized, but K is already soooooo lazy. She really just sleeps the day away. I wonder if T will bother K during the day once they are out together?
You probably already know this, since you read a lot, but I found it interesting:
https://www.cuteness.com/blog/content/are-cats-nocturnal
Crepuscular animal - Wikipedia
Timing of Feline Activity - WikiVet English
I'm sure there are better articles out there, and I have to read about 5 different sources until I believe it for real. I've always been a bit of a 'doubting diana'...and then while reading articles, it leads me into other terms like 'cathemeral'...and then I get more confused.
But it's good to learn something new everyday. Like that 'meowing at humans' theory...that was new and unusual,... so now I have to ultra observe my own cats and hear what they do.)
I'm thinking that T will want to play with K not only during the day, but probably at 4am-6am and then again at 4pm-7pm, maybe a bit at 2am, and then some more at noon/midnight, 10am/pm...Basically you'll observe their patterns. They'll have their own.
But yeah, T will probably bother K...in a good way. Hopefully, the cats will sync their time, but if not, then that's pretty normal, too. Sometimes one cat wants to sleep while the other one does not.
K is probably not lazy, she just enjoys quality sleep time. Maybe K is just dozing, versus deep sleeping, and more alert than she appears. Though with some of K's sleep positions, she does look to be enjoying the slumber...umm...beauty rest/cat naps/dreams.
Maybe it would be easier to set up the gate blocking off the kitchen (and without all the cardboard, bracing tables, etc), feed K on that side, and T on the other, and then slowly slide the gate to the side as they eat? So the gate would stay partially in place, but be open enough for them (and us!) to get through. Hopefully they would be flexible (and hungry) enough to not mind that they're eating in slightly different places than usual.
I like this above idea.
I also like the idea you had previously, of just suddenly removing the gate.
Say that K and T are playing at the kitchen gate, and they are both in a really good play session.
Then you just tell them, "okay cats, now's the time the gate comes down. I want you both to behave and play nicely. You both know each other, and have been around each other, so the only difference is the gate will be open. I want your co-operation, okay?"
At this point both cats will stop and look at you, maybe run away, but hopefully not far.
They may think you are a little odd, but hopefully not.
You confidently slide the gate away...and act like 'no big deal'...and just carry on with whatever you were doing.
(Basically you are observing them, but don't act like you are.)
"Okay, cats, no big deal....play nice."
However you do it, ...will be fun. Just keep reminding the cats to stay calm, 'hey, be nice', and 'no big deal'.
Just like any other day of the week.
I shall wish you luck, ...but I know you don't need it.I'll update if anything interesting happens! In the meantime I'm going to try my best at clipping their nails. Wish me luck.
Just do it while they are sleepy.
I have all the confidence in your skill levels. You're probably already at pro-levels, so after this you will be above-pro.