War has broken out on my kitchen table!

Since Gizzi arrived 7 weeks ago, he has been a holy terror, chasing the girls, pouncing on them as they walk by a chair, disturbing their very necessary naps, etc. He has even chased Creampuff, who weighs 18 lbs more than Gizzi!

His daily exercise includes tearing through the house at full speed, up over chairs, onto desks, knocking things off of desks, up on the counters, into the windows, up to the top of Baby's two level cat stand, and maybe even a full-pawed swipe at me as he goes by. He has one of these workouts scheduled each morning, and one each evening.

I don't think he had trouble on his mind this morning. He was probably just curious to see what I was doing at the table. To give him his due, he probably didn't even realize that Bon Bon was on the table. And if he knew, he didn't care. He had chased her off before and he could do it again.

Now Bon Bon is a very placid, mild-mannered cat who pretty much likes to be left alone. She doesn't like Gizzi, but she doesn't hate him, either. She has seen other cats come and go in our household, and she can't be too concerned. Nevertheless, she is now the matriarch of the pride, and I'm sure she feels that a little respect is due her.

She was sitting beside me this morning, looking on as I wrote a few checks. She was -- and I have to emphasize this -- completely mellow. Then Gizzi leaped up onto the table and in seconds, Bon Bon turned into a Warrior Princess.

She seemed to expand in size, and she hissed furiously. She rose up on her back paws and let him have it -- first a left and then a right -- BAP! BAP! Gizzi couldn't do anything but look astonished! "What's this?" he seemed to say. But she wasn't through with him. BAP! BAP!, as he backed up across the table. He crouched on the edge of the table, ears flat. This was something he hadn't counted on. She continued to growl and hiss. Clearly, this was no place for a smart cat to linger, so he didn't! He headed for his closet, where he could rest and think things over.

Bon Bon settled down almost immediately, but she still had a few growls to express. I started to stroke her. If I could, I would have handed her a towel, and maybe raised one paw in the air. She was clearly the winner and soon everyone would know it. But most importantly, Gizzi knew it.

A few minutes ago, I passed her as I entered the kitchen, and I patted her little head. She looked up -- and I swear she smiled!

Copyright © Renee Darvin
August 10, 2000