Thisbe comes out of the closet

As everyone knows, Friday is Cat Blog Day

And Thisbe is out from under the bed, too. After years and years, Thisbe has finally accepted our young houseguest who appears three times a year for various vacations. Usually Thisbe spends these weeks sulking under the bed or in a closet, wherever there is darkness and privacy and one can't (Thisbe hopes) be seen or detected.

Annie is the Tabby. Thisbe is the tortoise. She has a cross on her chest, and she hopes that the Pope might visit someday, as she knows he likes cats. But I digress.

When discovered under the bed, Thisbe used to hiss, "Get outta here. My space."

While we were in Europe, we shut the bedroom doors so that Thisbe's caretaker could give her the twice daily insulin she requires. After a few days Thisbe warmed up to the caretaker and didn't hide when the front door opened and the unfamiliar tread was heard in the house.

So on this occasion of our small guest's visit, we shut the bedroom doors again. Thisbe could "hide" behind the sofa in the home office or under my computer desk or in the cedar closet. She made several appearances and let the small guest pet her, a milestone. Then, three nights ago, Thisbe approached the small guest and said, in cat, "I would like to be petted." And it was accomplished. So Thisbe has been hanging out in the home office with the rest of us. The doll house is set up here and the small guest is busy night and day rearranging dolls and furniture.

Thisbe's old terror has abated. Of course sometimes a cat still likes her privacy and a trip to the furnace room or behind the couch or especially the cedar closet is still required.

Annie is always tranquil but has been heard once this week to offer up five mad meows. Don't know what that was about. She also escaped, opening the sliding door with her paw and exclaiming, (in cat) "spring is here; free at last!"

A household with cats is a complicated one, with brooding and sulking and periods of extreme lovingness. Cats are crazy. They fit right in.

Grapeshot

Thisbe's Reply

My mistress made me sound like an indolent creature who lives only to eat and sleep. She neglected to mention my long, vigorous, luxurious baths which I sometimes perform in time to music. Baths burn calories. And speaking of intimate activities, sometimes I "freshen up" with a scratch in the old sandbox. Lots of digging. More calories burned.

When I appear to be gazing out the window, I am really guarding the hearth, keeping track of the vermin who might try to come in. One of them already has gone into the garage which I stand guard at least once a day where said vermin chewed a whole in the bag of bird seed.

It needs to be stated that sometimes the bottom of my food dish is visible, and this causes me great anguish, and I must complain loudly and with vigor (burning yet more calories).

My mistress tends to forget that dogs have masters, but cats have staff.

Thisbe

Missed Cat Blog Day Again

Damn! I missed cat blog (Friday) day again.

A day in the life of Thisbe:

Go upstairs after a snack and greet mistress as she is awakening.
Twice a week--get brushed. Love it!
Downstairs for another snack.
Out onto the front porch until a person, vehicle or (horrors) dog appears. Beat retreat.
Beg for catnip and receive same.
Downstairs to home office. Chased back upstairs by Annie who thinks this is HER territory.
Look out the kitchen window on the cat perch. Observe squirrels, chipmunks, birds and people. Even vehicles and dogs. Safe and sound.
Upstairs and under the bed for a power nap.
Downstairs for another snack.
Maybe some serious mouse play. Possibly even vigorous mouse play (VMP)
Hang out in the living room during dinner and ball game.
Beg for more catnip.
A snack before bedtime.
Accompany grownups to bed. In summer, sleep on floor by bed. In winter, curl up at foot of bed.
Middle of night: occasional mouse play if the mood arises.
Sleep until next snack time.

What a life!

Grapeshot