I visited some friends in their big house out in the country one weekend a few months ago. They have nine kitties, most of them quite shy around strangers. However, the one cat they have named Ambassador, because he is the friendliest and always greets new guests. He's the one who checks out visitors to make sure they're okay for the rest of the kitties, it's really cute.

At first the only cat I saw was Ambassador, he is a big tabby. I knew the other cats must have been around, or hiding; now and then I would see the flash of a tail or a patch of fur whiz by the door frame or from under a piece of furniture. After getting thoroughly sniffed and scent-marked by Ambassador, he plopped his 14 pound body down next to me and wouldn't move! He'd lay on my lap, on my feet, beside me, anywhere he could to be in contact with me. It was so cute. Finally I began to see the other kitties poke their pretty whiskered faces from out of their hiding places.

Several of us were playing Trivial Pursuit until late in the evening. It was getting late and we all decided it was time for some sleep. My friend escorted me to one of the lovely guest bedrooms in their home. Ambassador was right at my heels. He jumped up on the bed to smell my overnight bag as soon as I set it down. When I got into the bed, it felt so strange! Being single, I have a small daybed at home, so sleeping in the huge king-sized bed with goose-down quilt felt really strange to me. I curled up in one corner of the bed and tried to fall asleep. I was missing my cat, Petruska, who sleeps on my bed every night, when Ambassador jumped up beside me and started purring. The purring made me drift off to sleep and I felt much more comfortable having a kitty there with me.

When I woke up in the morning, Ambassador was still laying on the bed with me. I sat up to begin to get out of bed and noticed that the door was open a crack. I looked around the room and found...eight pairs of kitty eyes staring at me! The other cats must have nudged open the door with their paws or noses and came into the room during the night. Two of them lay on the end of the bed, one was laying next to my overnight bag, one on the floor, one on a chair, two in the windowsill, one on the dresser and one on top of the oak wardrobe! It was the funniest sight! It was also very comforting...it was as if Ambassador told them I was lonely and felt strange sleeping in that big bed, so he asked them all to come in and keep me company. I smiled at the nearest cat and said, "Kitty, kitty, kitty," in a pleasant voice...and ALL EIGHT CATS came running! I was pinned to the bed being sniffed and rubbed and kneaded while they all purred loudly. I guess Ambassador really lives up to his name!

Now every time I go to their house all nine kitties come running from their hiding places because they want to visit. But the first one I see is always Ambassador!

Copyright © Laurie Meyer
December 1, 1997