WHAT’S NEW
PUSSYCAT?
I have cat fever. It's a disease of the heart brought on by
witnessing a love affair between Ally, my five-year-old granddaughter, and a
very young and very homeless Siamese cat.
This animal entered my life a few weeks ago when Ally discovered
it trapped in my storage shed, meowing for deliverance. Ally brought it into
the house, draped around her neck, wearing it like an expensive sable. The
furry feline purred as she stroked its ear.
The cat has a distinctive tawny brown coat, and the most
luminous turquoise blue eyes I have ever seen. Other family members fell under
its spell, smitten by its appearance and temperament. Close examination
determined it to be a male.
Ally asked her mom, my daughter Carol, “Can we bring it
home?"
“No. I am extremely allergic to all sorts of animal dander. No
pets! That's final."
However, this cat has sly and beguiling ways, and is attempting
to have that law repealed. While awaiting a decision on this matter, Mister
Kitten will live in my garage. My sixteen-year-old dog, Molokai , while
making his way through the cat’s new abode, heading for his outdoor potty, politely
ignores this interloper. He is not taking sides in this matter.
The first time I set out their respective dinners for the
dog and cat, each made a beeline for the other’s dish, which they cleaned with
gusto. I had no idea that my old dog would enjoy a change of diet, but who knew
that cats would favor dry dog food?
Cats are portrayed as finicky eaters, but not mine. (Dear
Reader: Notice my use of the possessive, 'mine'?) My cat is continuously hungry, and eats
anything given to him, three times a day, if you please. Yes, he has grown
chubbier since moving in.
Ally chose to christen
the cat, "Jacob Freckles," a name not likely to be duplicated in our
neighborhood. Jacob appears less interested in what name we call him than how
timely we maintain his feeding requirements.
Our new boarder, whose name I shortened to “Jake” almost
wore out his welcome the day he zipped past me into our living room where he proceeded
to soil a new carpet. He came within a cat’s whisker of getting the old
heave-ho that day, but I have since forgiven him his shabby-tabby behavior. Jake
is now my good buddy. He has won me over.
One reason he appeals to me is that he permitted himself to
be found, unlike the Siamese cat that escaped from a Railway Express car into
the wilds of Hoboken
Maybe Jake is descended from that rebel. I would like to
think so. Jake has a city-bred air about him, a con man's cool. You gotta love
him. He knows he has wormed his way into my heart and figures I won’t crate him
up and send him to some other destination. Should this come to pass, let me
assure you, he won’t travel by rail. He’ll go Federal Express. My cat deserves
the best.
▀
JAKE, THE CAT
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