I've just returned from a a week-long holiday (visited Sweden and saw a play there). My sister came to see my cats 2-3 times a day while I was away, so they were well looked after. I brought my sister a toy black panther to thank her. I just hope it does not bring her painful memories, as she lost her black cat called Panther two years ago. She now has two grey tabby ones, and the other day she said she wished she had a black one, too. I thought the toy one would fill that particular hole.

Anyhoo, I wanted to tell you about her cats, the male called Linus and the female called Ronja. She took them to our summer cottage the other week, it was the first time for Ronja, aged 7 months. Our Mum went, too. The cats travelled in two carriers, plastic with a lattice door. The carriers were piled one on top of the other, on the seat beside my sister, doors facing my sister. Mum says it was the cutest thing, when she looked to see how they were doing, and there was a paw sticking out from each door and holding on to my sister's arm or leg!

The trip went well, they didn't protest on the bus or on the boat (I wish Frank would behave - do you know how embarrassing it is when your cat yowls for three hours on end, and the other passengers cast murderous glances in your direction?).

Now, Ronja is a great climber. At home, she climbs up doors and window frames. Well, nothing could stop her from climbing all those wonderful tall trees on the island! She did quite well, and always made it down herself, so she never had to be rescued. But poor Linus was so worried! He would sit at the bottom of the tree and yowl up at her, begging her to come down. They are so wonderfully fond of each other, everywhere they went, they would stick together, and Linus obviously thinks he is Ronja's bodyguard. Frank acts like that with Nikki when we are out on the island, too, but Nikki is so independent, she gets rid of him as quickly as she can.

Copyright © Marina Kurten
May 21, 2001