Trygg's Buddies and the Adjustment

Trygg seems to be adjusting well to domestic life (feline domesticus adoptus). The problem has been the other cats in the group. (The collective noun for the cats pretty much depends on Trygg's mood:

"When I first starting coming around there was this glaring of cats...."

"All I did was stop by for something to eat and I was confronted by a pounce of cats."

When he's feeling off, it's a dout of cats. (Doubt? A private joke between us.)

I suggested a nuisance of cats. Trygg agreed. Then he sort of gave me this look.....

Trygg and I are comfortable with a clouder of cats....

None-the-less, he's had a sort of mésalliance with Buddy. I always thought it was because Buddy was aggressive with Trygg when Trygg first started coming around. Then I found out it was jealousy. Trygg knew that Buddy was my first...well...buddy. Buddy left, then came back a few months later. That didn't go down well with Trygg.

Then there's Pood and Friend. They share a small studio they set up under a small back porch. There's no kitchen, so they usually come by for breakfast and dinner. This, long before Trygg started coming around. Still, I know that Trygg doesn't like it, but I have pointed out that he has the inside, his own bed, his own Smörgåsbord, use of the remote all afternoon and most nights, he should not be unkind, uncharitable, or ungracious. He was contrite. (I'm still waiting to find a dead mouse on the doorstep, but I'm not going to say anything. If it doesn't come from the heart then I don't want it.)

For a while it was rough on us both. He was very insecure. I believe Trygg was what we never refer to as "a throw-away". Perhaps the person he used to live with died. Still, he was in sad shape when he first came around. Physically and emotionally. He would go by the door to go out, then come back, hop on the table on the front porch to be let in, check his food, sit on the back of the couch, then get up to go out again. Some times he'd be gone for hours. Christmas he was out all night and did not come back until the following afternoon. The only thing I could do was to show him I still loved him and was happy to have him back.

Now, Trygg is getting better. He sleeps most of the day and almost all night. I am happy to see him adjust. (Happy not to have to wait up until midnight or 1 am for him to return.)

I think the blog helps too. Trygg didn't say anything about it when I first started writing it, but then, one day, he said to me, "I think writing this blog is really helping you. It seems to be a good thing for you to put your feelings down."

Even the cat winks =^.~=

Regards,

Slim

Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview

Cats' Reading Habits. A guy thing?

Trygg is reading A Sportsman's Sketches by Ivan Turgenev. I'm reading The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. I see Trygg give me a look. He shakes his head. I say, "What? There's a cat in the story." (Actually, there isn't. It's just a pet name Hemingway and Hadley had.)

Trygg holds up his iPad. I go back to my book. We continue reading in silence. Trygg leaves the room. I figure I should see what he's up to. He's sitting on the dresser. He has one of my ties. One that's identical to the one I'm wearing. I figure this is some kind of bonding thing.

Trygg can't tie a tie. Well, he can, but not very well. So I go over to help him tie his tie. My tie, actually. Trygg likes a half-Windsor. He wears narrow collars so I imagine he would. As Trygg likes to say, "Why does someone who wears a shirt with a collar the width of my paw tie his tie into a knot the size of my head?" I agree.

I straighten his tie, I straighten my tie, and there we are. Side by side looking into the mirror. Guy stuff. Almost.

"I am a cat. Don't you think I look silly wearing a tie?"

Okay, guy stuff.

"Yes," I agree, "but I don't get your point."

"I just want you to know how silly you look reading a book." He takes off his tie and goes back to his iPad.

I go back to my book. I have to admit, he's right.

Even the cat winks.


Sincerely,

Slim

Playing Games with Trygg

I am sitting on the sofa, minding my own business, doing a crossword puzzle when Trygg jumps up on the sofa. He drops a pencil in my lap. He looks at me askance. I hold up the pen. He points to the crossword where I've had to write over my mistakes.

I get up, go to the closet where I keep the recycling and take out yesterday's puzzle. I show him where he left tears in the paper trying to erase the mistakes he'd made using the pencil.

A tactical retreat. Trygg goes to the closet and drags out the Scrabble game. We set it up. He doesn't exactly cheat. He just knows a lot of obscure and arcane words.

I don't know why he gives me that smug look every times he comes up with one of those words. He never wins. Still, it's nice to have someone to play Scrabble with.

Even the Cat Winks. =^.~=


Regards,

Slim

Why do cats come home wet?

Trygg comes home. Through the window. I can see that he is wet. I follow him into the kitchen where he goes to check on his food. (He doesn't come out and say it, but I know he suspects me of nibbling at it.)

My wife looks at Trygg. "He's wet," she says.

"I know."

Trygg looks up, sees us looking at him, looks at me, looks at my wife, looks at me again, and his expression says it all. Blank stare:

"What's wrong?"

We start laughing, get towel, dry him off. He goes to eat. We are still wondering how he got wet. He denies he ever was wet. The towel's already been through the laundry, evidence gone. Another mystery.

Even the cat winks =^.~=

Regards,

Slim

Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview

Do you ever wonder what cats do at night?

I used to wonder what Trygg did when he was out. Til last night. He comes in, slams the door, pulls down the shades and says,

"Ill be on the bed sleeping. If anyone asks, I haven't been out of the house all night."

Even the cat winks. =^.~=

Regards,

Slim

Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview

Moderation and Cats

"Moderation on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents excess from acquiring the deadening effect of habit." From the quotations of Slim Fairview. Even the cat winks. =^.~=