Secure in the Night

Imogen has taken another step forward in joining the usual suspects in the Cosy Apartment. This one surprised me.

I suspect that Imo spends most nights curled up in the house atop the cylinder-house cat-tree. It’s her favourite place, and I have often found her still there when I wake in the mornings. Lately, she has been venturing into the bedroom more, and spending time on the tall bookcase near the window. But she has always slept the dark hours away somewhere else.

Two nights last week, she slept on the bed with me. The first time, I heard somecat coming up the staircase to the bed. I knew it wasn’t Renn or Neville, as my two oldsters were already on the bed, at its foot. Percival was on a cat-tree by the window. Dabney was, then, locked in the bathroom. It could only have been Imogen. She walked across me and lie down on the far side, against me. She remained for most of the night. The second time she did this, I was already unconscious when she arrived, and woke to feel her next to me.

I had thought she was committed to spending the night elsewhere, a cat who preferred not to be on the humans’ bed. I think she will not stay every night there, but that she did, twice, is a great change for her, an indication that she likes my company and feels secure in it, and untroubled by the others on the bed, though I felt that they were always the least of her concerns.

Had Miss Silky slept with her previous person? Or had she not been allowed or determined not to, and that was why it took so long to decide in this case? We will never know. I do know, however, that having Imogen lying next to me gladdens me, and makes the night’s rest seem more complete.