Spot is this cat from the neighbourhood that always comes around. She is white with a brown tail that is half length and has a ball on the end. She also has brown ears and a perfect brown circle on her right side. We think that she belongs to one of the neighbours but is an outdoor cat. She is skinny but not scrawny.

Anyway, Spot and Vino have a love-hate relationship with each other. They love to hate each other! Spot comes to the window almost every day and Vino gets super excited and agitated. He'll crouch in front of the window and stare at her. She is a brazen hussy who will rub up against the BBQ, shoe rack, patio furniture, etc. She also lolls about on the welcome mat, stretching and exposing her belly. This drives Vino insane because all that out there is *his* territory if his mean slaves would only let him go out! Sometimes, if Vino doesn't seem mad enough, Spot will jump at the window and hiss at Vino. Vino will jolt a bit but mostly just continues to crouch where he is.

Yesterday, I had just given Vino his dinner, when Spot arrived. Vino was unsure as to what to do. Eat his dinner or have a showdown with Spot? He ate a few bites. He ran to the screen door and glared a Spot. He ran back to his food and ate a few bites. It was all too much excitement and he barfed up all his food. Poor Vino.

Dennis picked Vino up and held him there so he could look down upon his nemesis. I thought Vino would be resentful and embarrassed at being held like a baby by his daddy. Interestingly, Vino loved it. He got all perky eared and looked soooooo smug. Soon Spot got the message and left while spewing a barrage of nasty cuss words at us and Vino. Bye Spot!

Vino got a 2nd dinner which he ate in peace and managed to keep down.

Copyright © Britta Wilson
May 17, 2003