I want to tell you about some pets we have known. I’ll start with Whiskers
Whiskers was our first cat as a couple. An awkward looking calico with long whiskers, she stood out from the other kittens at the pet shop.
When we got her home, our lovebird, Chiquita, took it upon herself to teach the newcomer who was the real head of the family. She would not allow the kitten to step up on the raised fireplace hearth, pecking at Whiskers’ feet every time she would dare to try.
Next lesson: there was not enough room on Momma’s lap for both cat and bird. Chiquita would be sitting on my shoulder while I read. When Whiskers would jump up to settle onto my lap, the little bird would climb down my arm, stride over to the kitten and peck at her until she would jump down.
As Whiskers grew into a beautiful long-haired calico cat, she never forgot the lessons taught to her by Chiquita and continued to be dominated by her.
Whiskers loved to ride in the car and play fetch with little foil balls. She was such a joy.
One afternoon a grey tabby kitten entered our garage through the open side door and began to eat Whiskers’ food. Whiskers spotted him and, and saw that neither my husband nor I were making the kitten leave. She spun around and began to stalk back into the house. I called to her, “Whiskers, you don’t have to take that.” She turned to look at me as though to say, “I don’t?” I said, “No. You don’t.” With that she turned back around and strode up to the kitten, who was still eating, and smacked him with her paw.
The kitten ran behind the bicycle and started fighting with Whiskers through the spokes of the wheels. After several minutes, they both decided this was getting them nowhere and Whiskers went back into the house. The kitten came out from behind the bike and went back to the food dish.
Rocky, as he came to be called, became the Alpha cat in the household and his antics earned him a lasting place in our hearts and memories. But that is another story.
If you have stories you would like to share, please post them – or any comments about my postings. We love to hear from all of you.
