Lately, Hobbes who is not a lap cat, has become my best buddy. In the evening I log on using my laptop. I sit on my reclining love-seat with my feet up and Hobbes jumps up and stretches out beside my leg, his head near my hip and sleeps the evening away, occasionally reaching a paw out to touch my arm to make sure I still love him. Then sometime in the middle of the night he joins me in bed, sleeping near my head. It's such a nice feeling to reach out and feel a warm, furry body beside you. I wonder if this is because we've been traveling lately and he's wanting to catch up on all the attention that he's missed out on?

Then there is Selena. She seems much more relaxed with us these days. Although she's an oriental mix she's never voiced her opinion on matters around the house. Because of this I was terribly concerned a couple of weeks ago when I heard this very obvious Siamese voice crying in the dining room. Hobbes was concerned as well. He looked at me with his forehead wrinkled (he's so cute when he does that), then went to investigate. I followed him to make sure she wasn't hurt. Nope, she was talking to her mousie! Since then she's held conversations with that mouse most evenings as she moves it from one room to the next. And, even more important, she doesn't run from us as often. She'll sit and look at me and let me reach down to pet her. On those occasions when she does run past me, I've let her go without trying to pet her, hoping to let her know that she's safe. It seems to be working. Tonight, for the first time in 1 1/2 years she didn't run out of the kitchen when I turned the water on. Now if she'd just realize that plastic garbage bags and brooms won't hurt her. I shudder to think what made her afraid of garbage bags, water and brooms.

I hope everyone is having as fine a night as I am, with their kitties sleeping nearby or talking to their mousies and everyone feeling safe and secure and loved.

Copyright © Julie Cook
May 18, 2001