Monday, July 10, 2017

The Familiar and the Exotic



Cammie’s recovery is complete at last, but her most recent illness, following closely upon the cleaning of the cat-trees (I’m not sure which was the greatest upheaval, in her eyes), has left her with some differences.

Dietically, she has returned to eating more hard-food than soft, which is disappointing to me, as she needs the moisture of the soft-food. I suppose she will eat only so much, and if it is mostly hard kernels, the soft-food will suffer. This was discouraging but not wholly unexpected.

What I find more surprising are changes in her habits. I have already written an entry describing how she is – sometimes – more tolerant of the proximity of her roommates. There is an addendum to that story. The hot weather here continues, and Cammie has taken refuge under the armchairs from time to time. One spot in particular is a favourite resort of Tucker’s, but this day, the princess had claimed it. I wondered how that would affect the roly poly’s leisure. I was taken quite unawares when I saw not only that Tucker had slipped into his spot (well, very close to it, anyway) even with Cammie there, but that the latter did not object.


Then again, Cammie seems to have discovered another comfortable new spot. Specifically, she has taken to lying where I often sit, in a corner of the sitting room couch. This means, of course, as every cat-person knows, that I must find somewhere else. Even when I arrive on the couch first, my little Siamese will periodically jump up on to my lap, which she used to do when she was first growing accustomed to physical contact with me, but rarely did afterward.


It is rather an adventure, living with cats. They are, as I have written before, creatures of habit – until they change those habits. Cammie will still hiss at a cat who is too close to her (across the room is frequently too close), even if that cat is asleep and posing no danger whatsoever. And yet, she may then consent to her personal space being constricted. Bit by bit, the princess is changing. In that she is rather like me, like all humans, altering how we behave, what we do, sometimes imperceptibly. Perhaps that is why so many of us enjoy feline company: these beasts are similar enough to people to be familiar, and different enough to be exotic. Can there be a better description of my Cammie?


10 comments:

  1. She has made me smile. And I enjoy her subtle adventures. Parker...you rock. I like your attitude.

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  2. I'm glad that Cammie is feeling like her normal self, and still is able to surprise you with her changes in habits. When is the last time I changed one of my habits? I think we (at least some of us) are more rigid in the structure of our days than even cats. :-)

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  3. Things are never dull at your house. Just when you think you have one of the cats figured out, they change. But I'm not surprised Cammie wants to lie in your place on the sofa. It may be her way to get close to you without actual physical contact.

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    1. Cammie is my most challenging roommate, but in many ways our relationship is the most rewarding. For me, that is; I am not certain how she feels about it!

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  4. Living with cats is an adventure! The Hubby and I knew NUTHIN' about cats when we adopted Angel and Chuck as six-week-old kittens just about 13 years ago, and every day there is something new. I like your blog!

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    1. Thank you for visiting the blog. I too was a novice to cats when I took in my Tungsten in 2007. She taught me a lot before she died in 2015, and taught other cats even more. She was the first to show me how interesting cats could be.

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  5. Cats are a never ending source of interest and delight. Just when you think you know the habits of a feline companion they find new routines and habits. I love that Cammie is seeking your presence and seems to be happy with the companionship of her feline house-mates. Happy changes.

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    1. I wouldn't say she is happy with the other beasts - she would prefer being an only-cat, I'm sure - but she is getting better. Acceptance is a victory in this case. But these are indeed happy changes.

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  6. Tucker doesn't seem worried that Cammie has taken his spot, and she seems very relaxed in it.

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  7. Glad Cammie is feeling better. I know what you mean about creatures of habit until they change their habits.

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