No, I didn't get another cat... mine turned into a kitten for a while this morning. He is feeling sooo good now, eating much better and full of pep and good nature.

Neighbor "Charles" greeted me at the bathroom door this morning and even let me pet him in the living room. I tried playing with some of Cattail's old toys on a string and he was having fun. Cattail came in during this and soon HE was playing with toys he hasn't looked at in 2-3 years! The *two* cats were playing at the same time with the toy mouse...never expected that from Cattail.

Next Cattail raced outside at top speed with Charles following and Cattail ran straight to our honey locust tree in the front yard and climbed it! I have never in seven years seen him do that. I've put him on the lower branches, but he doesn't much like it up there and jumps back down.

Charles sat at the base of the tree and looked up at him, wondering how he got up there...and so fast. I doubt Charles has ever climbed a tree, though he has claws. Cattail walked around on the lower branches and stayed long enough for me to get the camera to snap a picture of the two cats.

Then Cattail jumped down... sorta lowering himself down the trunk a bit and jumping the rest of the way... took off through the lawn like a streak of lightening and Charles behind him, though he's quite chubby and can't run as fast. They were tooooo cute!!

I'm not sure what is causing Cattail to act like a kitten today, but he's obviously feeling better than he has for awhile. Maybe his mouth has been sore and it's the clean teeth and healthy gums now...?

He hasn't played with any toys for at least a year and I've never seen him get playful with another cat. He was in rare form this morning and it warmed the cockles of my heart!

Then I took him for a ride in the car over to the Farmer's Market at Port Orchard. The lady who helped us when I adopted Cattail was there with several cats in cages and she wanted to see Cattail. So I brought the car closer and hooked his leash. He walked over to her area and several people came from all directions to see him...beautiful cat on a leash. One lady asked me if I was trying to get rid of him... HARDLY! So he was his charming self and accepted all forms of petting and cooing. He knows when he's the center of attention and seems to take it all in stride... like it's due him.

We then went to a parking area by the water on the edge of town and he got out to explore while I walked with him, leash in hand. He likes me to walk ahead after awhile and he trots along behind. Followed me about 50 feet out on a long pier extending into the water. There are a lot of dry autumn leaves on the ground already, by the way. He inspected wild blackberry bushes and checked out the leaves and tall grass to see if anything was hiding that he could pounce on. No luck.

We're back home now and he's outside making his rounds. It's a perfect day and he's feeling so good. The rains will start in about 2 months or sooner so he might as well enjoy all of the remaining nice weather he can. I'm going out myself to sit on the patio and enjoy my new fountain. I'm knitting a new pad for his bed and the patio is a good place to do that.

Copyright © Karen Anderson
August 19, 2001