Saturday, February 14, 2015




A Feline Valentine

A cat can offer much bound to enchant. 
Felines, ever charming, but capricious
Eventually –– no matter how you rant ––
Lenient, strict, indulgent, or judicious ––

It seems the little fuzzball will prevail.
No worthy feline ever lets you win.
Even so, the smartest never fail,
‘Tis certain, to enchant you while they sin. 

So easily do cats cast spells beguiling
Foolish folk enraptured by their antics
Only laugh when cats deserve reviling 
Letting felines prove their fans romantics.

Letting pussy get away with mischief
Yields ire-dissolving mirth, and thus a missed tiff. 

~ § ~

Post Script

Nothing can break up a human spat
Faster than a charming household cat.
And little else can more acutely grieve you
Than when the darling sickens, and must leave you.

~ FreeThinke

In loving memory of Priscilla (June, 2004 - January 12, 2015)


Rest in peace, dear little friend. 
You were very much loved and always will be.

~ § ~

28 comments:

  1. Aw, I'm sorry for your loss. My wife and I rescue cats, and as far as I'm concerned any "cat person" is de facto a good person.

    JMJ

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JMJ,
      You and your wife rescue cats? Wonderful!

      Most of our cats have been rescues.

      Once, Mr. AOW himself rescued a tabby cat from the alley behind his coin shop. Sheba, quite feral, was pitiful at four months of age, but went on to be a beautiful and long-lived beauty. She was Mr. AOW's "heart cat." I'm so glad that Mr. AOW didn't have his stroke while Sheba was still with us. Would have been so difficult for Sheba -- Mr. AOW was her person, even during those last years of Feline Cognitive Disorder.

      I've never met a cat that I didn't like -- even if the cat wasn't all that warm toward me.

      Delete
    2. That is surprising.

      I pegged Jersey more of a cat juggler than a cat rescuer

      Delete
    3. It doesn't surprise ME in the least. I've always known that Jersey was a good guy underneath that political bluster. I like to think that ALL of us are better than we generally let on here in the blogosphere. In fact I KNOW it. Mankind would not survive very long if what-we-see-in-the-blogosphere were the sum and substance of Human Nature.

      Like young Ann Frank, I truly believe that all men are good at heart. It just too bad so many get enraptured by wicked or stupid ideologies and cling to a half-witted understanding of dogma of various kinds.

      Anyway, thank you, Jersey, for your sympathy and understanding.

      You too, AOW, of course.

      Delete
  2. FT,
    Priscilla was so beautiful.

    I know what you're going through, FT. Remember when I lost Dusti 2.5 years ago? I still miss her every day, and my grief is palpable. Dusti was one of my "heart cats"?

    ReplyDelete
  3. I dread the day that we will lose Cameo, who will turn 14 this summer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear, AOW, this may sound insensitive, but please try not to spoil a single moment of the present by worrying too much about the future. It may sound corny, but "Gather ye rosebuds, while ye may ..." is the best advice ever given outside of Holy Writ.

      As usual, our mutual friend set down pithy, singularly appropriate words:

      While I was fearing it, it came ––
      But came with less of fear
      Because that fearing it so long
      Had almost made it fair ––

      There is a Fitting –– a Dismay ––
      A Fitting –– a Despair ––
      'Tis harder knowing it is Due
      Than knowing it is Here.

      The Trying on the Utmost
      The Morning it is new
      Is Terribler than wearing it
      A whole existence through.


      ~ Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

      "'Tis harder knowing it is Due/ Than knowing it is Here." I think is the key to understanding its wisdom.

      Delete
  4. I myself lost a dear Cat named Dusty
    He is missed as yours is.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Albert,
      Our beloved four-legged companions are cherished members of the family.

      Cherish your beloveds.

      Delete
  5. So sorry for your loss, I know the feeling much too well. I've been there 3 times.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Mr. Mestopholes, Marius, and Cossette all send their love!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, FJ. I wish I could say Winner and Mr. Pussy -- my two remaining feline friends -- returned their Valentine's day compliment, but Alas! they are not nearly as discomforted by Priscilla's departure as I, and nowhere near as altruistic. Winner is too buy nursing her antagonism towards Mr. Pussy, a tiny, half-sarved foundling who joined us only last June, to show grief at Priscilla's absence.

      That's all right. Fortunately, I have enough love left in me to take care of us all -- at least for now.

      So love from me to Mr. Mephistopheles, Marius and Cossette.

      Delete
  7. I'm sorry to hear that, FY.
    I know the kind of distress loosing a long term pet can cause.

    Not a cat person myself but I still miss my bulldog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Duck,
      We miss our lost four-legged friends forever, IMO.

      I am indeed a cat person. But if we lived in a different place and had a normal schedule, we'd have a dog, too.

      Delete
    2. Thank you, Ducky. Tell me, did you have a REAL English Bulldog or was it a Boson Bull Terrier? I love both. Boxers too.

      I'm much too old now, of course, but if I were ever to have another dog, I would want it to be an English Bull.

      Met one at the vet's the other day. Looked so fierce, but was an absolute lamb -- thought he was a lap dog. ;-) He kept the waiting room warm, friendly and full of chuckles the whole time. EVERYBODY loved him.

      My neighbor three doors down has a female English Bull named Emma. Emma is also good-natured, but has a will of iron and will not budge until she's ready to go. A great conversation piece in the neighborhood!

      Delete
    3. An English bulldog, FT. Lived ten years which is fairly long for the breed. I suspect regular checkups and never getting agitated about anything was the secret.

      Just a good natured slob who got along with anyone and anything.
      A terrific companion.

      Delete
    4. That's great, Ducky. I like all dogs, but think there may be something especially friendly in the Bulldog, Boxers, and Boston Bull Terriers. I've never met one that didn't inspire instant affection.

      I know animal friends are not 'replaceable' like parts in an automobile, but have you ever considered getting another?

      I honestly believe we ought to adopt and care for animals as much for their sake as ours.

      Delete
  8. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Never a cat person, but I still miss my Cocker Spaniel Champ. Even after many years. He was my very best friend and he never disappointed.

    I imagine it is the same with he felines as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is, Gandolf. I would say this to you anf everyone else:

      It doesn't matter WHAT or WHOM you love, only THAT you love.

      Delete
  10. My deepest heartfelt condolences, my wife and I had to put down Miss Kitty, our Lilac-Point Siamese down on January 3rd and we just had an awful scare with our Australian Shepherd that thankfully turned out to be only a horrible case of prostatitis. He was feeling well enough today to give me a bath... it was supposed to be the other way around but didn't quite work out that way. Meanwhile, Godiva, our Chocolate-Point Siamese has staged a coup and believes herself to be in command of the household now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Finn. I had three until Priscilla suddenly developed an aggressive form of stomach cancer last month. There was nothing we could do for her once the illness became evident. It was ll over in less than two weeks. Very sad, because she was only ten years and seven months old. It's ironic that I often worried that she might outlive me and be left an orphan.

      Once again: Man proposes, God disposes.

      I am grateful for the two left behind, but have to admit Priscilla held a special place in my heart.

      I've never had anything so elegant as a purebred Siamese. All my cats have been foundlings or in latter years cats I've rescued from the shelter.

      I've never met one yet I didn't like. Each is unique -- just like people.

      Delete
    2. Finntann,
      The Lilac-Point Siamese cats are so beautiful. I know that you must be heartbroken.

      Your Godiva is alpha cat now, huh?

      Delete
    3. FT,
      Priscilla was your "heart cat."

      Delete
  11. I always found this, which originally appeared in part in a Bizarro cartoon panel to quite adequately capture the essence of cats.

    Day 752 of my captivity: My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from shredding the occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant.

    Day 761: Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded, must try this at the top of the stairs.

    Day 765: Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in an attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was...Hmmm. Not working according to plan...

    Day 774: I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The Bird on the other hand has got to be an informant. He has mastered their frightful tongue (something akin to mole speak) and speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room his safety is assured. But I can wait, it is only a matter of time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes -- and no. ;-) I suspect one of the reasons we feline fanciers love cats is admiration for their independence -- a characteristic both endearing and frustrating that holds great charm. I've had several kitties who were almost embarrassingly affectionate -- would want to stick to me like glue -- dog-like in their devotion.

      Priscilla was not like that. Except on very rare occasions she insisted on keeping a certain distance between us. She was diminutive and very beautiful, and cast a spell on me from the moment our eyes first met in the shelter when she was still a tiny kitten.

      I often said to her, when she very deliberately seemed to withhold her affection, "I doesn't matter whether you love me, Priscilla, all that matters is that I love you."

      She'd look back a me as much as to say, "I know," but then she'd roll over on her back, and let me rub her tummy while she purred contentedly, languidly twitching her plumy tail all the while. We often watched late night TV together, and she'd let me hold on to the end of tail, until we fell asleep.

      I shall miss her as long as I my mind still functions.

      Delete
    2. FT,
      Cats love us (Their servants?), and I'm sure that Priscilla loved you. But cats have strange ways of showing their love -- sometimes to the point of aloofness.

      Priscilla clearly gave you her version of a loving goodbye.

      My Dusti did something very similar her last few days (stayed close to me instead of being aloof), and Cameo hugged her. I'd never seen Cameo hug Dusti until those last few days that Dusti was on this earth.

      Delete

IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE FOLLOWING, YOU DON'T BELONG HERE, SO KINDLY GET OUT AND STAY OUT.

We welcome Conversation
But without Vituperation.
If your aim is Vilification ––
Other forms of Denigration ––
Unfounded Accusation --
Determined Obfuscation ––
Alienation with Self-Justification ––
We WILL use COMMENT ERADICATION.


IN ADDITION

Gratuitous Displays of Extraneous Knowledge Offered Not To Shed Light Or Enhance the Discussion, But For The Primary Purpose Of Giving An Impression Of Superiority are obnoxiously SELF-AGGRANDIZING, and therefore, Subject to Removal at the Discretion of the Censor-in-Residence.

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.