Reading through the opinions on which cats make for the most affectionate, I thought I'd relate a story. It's about a tom named Blue that lived with my grandmother.

Blue certainly didn't seem like an affectionate type. He was a patchy, gnarled, beast of a cat really. You see, although he was neutered he still loved to roam the neighbourhood and get into brawls with the other toms. He would strut, crooked tail held high, down one side of the street and up the other, just daring those other cats to bring it on. It was a sight to see. I'm not condoning this behaviour, at the time I was too young to know better.

Well, Blue had a soft side. During his roamings up and down the street if he happened upon a person he would sidle up and rub against them. Always, and without fail. If he thought you might give him a pat he was right in your path. If you talked to him or patted his head he would roll over for you and pretty much beg like a dog for a belly rub. He did this for any human, part of his family or not.

Even though he was such a softy with humans outside, his shining moments occurred inside my grandmother's house. It was a sight to see this big warrior with all his battle scars resting like a baby in my grandmother's lap. He spent his entire time in the house resting on a human. Who needs pillows and cat beds when he had so many warm laps to sleep on? It was also a rare moment when Blue wasn't purring inside the house. It was like having a small 747 laid out in your lap. Whenever I would walk in the door, Blue would hop up from grandma's lap and run over meowing in his big gruff voice.

So, even though Blue was the king of the neighbourhood with a very rough exterior, he was the biggest softie of a cat I've ever met. One day Blue didn't come home. None of us knows where he went or what happened to him. But we liked to think Blue found another kingdom to conquer, and another harem of humans to snuggle up to.

Unfortunately, this is probably unlikely.

Copyright © Rebecca Parkin
September 21, 2000