I didn't realize how like humans cats could be until our new sealpoint, Sasha, came into heat today. We didn't know when we got her if she'd been spayed, so we decided to wait and see.

Like all other Siamese we've had over the years, this one is very vocal, very opinionated, and nasty tempered. Unlike the others, she's very dainty and ladylike. She's only about half as big as Traveller and Willoughby, the neutered male cats we have now, and only a third as big as Maccabee, the miniature dachshund. But she is every inch a ruler (queen; pun intended).

Until Sasha got here, Mac pretty much had his way with the cats. She quickly disabused him of the notion he could play as roughly with her as he wished.

Anyway, this morning I noticed all three males were following her around, noses outstretched, but not too closely. She doesn't tolerate a lot of familiarity from them. But she soon started 'talking' very seductively to them and assumed the breeding position. Of course, they can't give her any relief, and, as they were fixed at a very early age, wouldn't know how even if they could (just like men, some of you ladies are saying).

Traveller got so intrigued with her behavior he wandered too close, whereupon she let out a screech and lashed out, lacerating poor Traveller's nose pretty thoroughly (just like a woman, some of you guys are saying). Then she hunkered back down and tried to back up to Willoughby, but he didn't want any of that pie, and he made good his escape before she could nail him.

If she were a human female, she'd probably be wondering about now if what she thought was a singles bar turned out to be a gay bar.

Guess we'll have to take her to the vet.

Copyright © David Yehudah
March 17, 1999