Gratuitous Cat Photos

Harry's birthday is tomorrow.  He will be six -- that makes him about 40 in cat years -- however, since Norwegian Forest Cats don't mature until 5 (36) -- he's a young 40.  He's big, over 14 pounds.  He is very sweet in disposition, and quite attached to me, as compared to other people (the neighbor recently commented it was a big day a month ago when Harry let himself by petted for the first time in the 3 years the neighbor has lived there).  He often spends days in my room, and -- now that I've moved upstairs -- nights on the first floor couch (fine nights he is to be found ensconced on the front porch chairs).

Winnifred (like some high-maintenance women, she keeps her age to herself -- she could be anything from 28 to 40) is a sweet, independent dear with humans, but she is having issues with the other cats.  She growls. She hisses. She stalks.  Outside, Fred is often seen chasing Tasha off the premises. We rarely see her actually attack -- in fact, in the house, it is Harry who attacks her. I like to believe he is defending Tasha's rights, but more likely, he just doesn't want to be on the bottom of the pile again, as he was during the Reign of Abbie, who hated all other cats.

Fred has not migrated away from her nest in the basement (a nest that she pushed Tasha out of). She spends the breakfast hour in the dining room with anyone who happens to be there (frequently hiding under the organ) and has started exploring the top floor.

Tasha is will be 3 (28) on Thanksgiving. She is the most expressive, or rather, the cat with the most expressions (while Winnifred is the most inscrutable). I think she is delightfully personable, yet independent -- she wants a good solid 10-minute coddle once a day, and then please let her alone. She hates the rain -- you are mostly likely to be scratched if you approach her on a rainy day -- but if you're outside working, she is usually nearby, watching with interest. (Not all humans find her as amusing as I do.)  She has a peaceful relationship with Harry and Floyd, but these days, skitters through the house in fear of something, and clearly views my room as a sanctuary. She and Harry trade off -- she spends the days outside on the porch, and the nights with me (when not chased out of the yard by Fred).

We may have to find another home for Fred. But she has been abandoned once already, so it has to be a home I'm sure will stick with her. It looks like it will have to be a one-cat home, however.

Floyd will turn 92 on his birthday on Halloween.  He spends most of his days sleeping in the children's room, and most of his nights sleeping on The Texan (on her, not so much on her bed).  With my move to the upstairs, we are having to adjust his expectations -- which is to say, now that someone is on the top floor much of the day -- his floor -- we are having to learn that that someone is not available for non-stop petting on demand. Floyd has some life in him yet; he still plays occasionally with a toy, he is sure he doesn't like that new cat that has joined us, who growls on sight of him. Once you start petting him, if you stop, you'll get scratched, hard.

But it is Harry's day, so I'll end with another photo of him.