The Tail of an Older Brother

I am surprised at how tolerant Brazil is with the younger cats. He will play with them and, when I use a string-toy on them, Shimmer patiently waits for it to come to him, while Aurora, Theodore and Chiff (especially the last) barge into each other trying to wrest control of the toy from rivals. He will lie still while Chiff stumps and pushes her way into a comfortable position next to him - or on top of him - in the cylinder-house cat-tree. And he will allow them to play with his tail.

That long, slender tail of his is the object of three active kittens, almost always at meal-times, when it waves about as Brazil eagerly awaits his food. Chiff often grasps my lower legs as I am preparing the cats’ fare - a startling action before I cut her claws - and I thought previously that it was due to her impatience. She was, in fact, trying to seize her foster-brother’s tail, which is more easily done against a solid background (eg. my legs) than against the air. Aurora will try to pull the tail as it passes by a chair she is on. Theodore likes to pounce on it.

Through all the shenanigans, Brazil maintains his equanimity. He seems to have an affinity for the youngsters, and certainly indulges in fun with them himself. If he is fulfilling the rôle of older brother, then he is the sort who doesn’t mind babysitting his siblings, even if they are of the annoying sort.