There are three tigers living in my house, Freddie, Lillie and of course, one named Tiger.

Freddie Mac, the oldest is a big burly charcoal tiger, at least 15 pounds of solid cat, very handsome in his gray on black stripes and big feet. The only light color is on his chin and he always seems to have a slightly worried expression. He desperately wants to be a lap kitty and loves to be petted, but is not comfortable with being picked up. Instead he likes to settle down next to me on the arm or back of a chair and is perfectly content just to be near.

The others are Tiger Guy and Lillie Belle, a brother and sister who came to us as kittens, tiny balls of fluff, absolutely devoid of fear. They look just like Freddie except for white boots and chests. They are, at this point three years old, and though full grown still look like kittens in comparison to Freddie.

Freddie Mac is the only one of our cats who has no nickname. He is always Fred, Freddie or occasionally, when he has been into mischief, Frederick! On the other hand, Miss Lillie has earned the title of “Princess” for the way she looks at you while mewing and lashing her tail imperiously, as though she is saying “play with me NOW!” We didn't know how Freddie would react to the kittens, but he has been very good with them, even when they would jump on his tail. The first time they saw Fred the kittens ran right up to him, so they must think he is their daddy, or just someone fun to play with.

Little Tiger though is just plain “Trouble!” There is no bookcase too high for him to get on, no drawer he will not push his nose into and no closet he will not investigate. In other words, he is the perfect example of the curious kitten! As my mother would say, “He’s just Trouble looking for a place to happen!”

It really is cute to see all of our tigers together, napping or bird watching or playing chase through the house. One day the two kittens were sitting, side by side, on the sill of the picture window, watching birds at the feeder, their little tails hanging straight down. Fred was sitting on the floor beside them, like a daddy with his kids watching the backyard entertainment.

No matter how much I talk to them about it, though. They simply will not put the rugs back flat, when they are done playing. They always leave them bunched up in the middle of the floor. Oh well, they are only kitties!

Copyright © David Rorer
December 22, 2004