Feline Friday – Tilly the Cat (AKA Our Brat)

Shaved, Tilly's Fur is Like Velvet

This old girl has taken to periodically crying at the top of her lungs until her favorite human (my SO) takes to the couch. Alternately, she will scratch the wall for a nails on chalkboard sound or make low, maddening vocalizations like an evil metronome.

If he closes her out of his office she’ll claw the door, all the while screaming louder. We struggle off and on all day trying to appease and quiet her. Feeding her helps for a time, though not always. We can only hope the satisfaction of a little canned cat food will put her to sleep for a while.

I’ve suggested placing a cat bed on a corner of SO’s desk. He counters that she can’t get up and down on her own. ~sigh~ It’s frustrating, especially when we are trying to talk, make a phone call, or just plain concentrate.

Some days I pick her up and walk around the house so she can sniff things above her reach and look out the windows from my arms. This seldom quiets her for longer than she wants to be held.

Sad to say, sometimes we resort to shouting. I honestly think she likes the negative attention like the proverbial middle child, which she sort of was before Luna passed away. When her actions become too much, we might flat out leave the house for a while. I’ve spent many hours hiding out at a favorite market’s mezzanine with my laptop.

The other morning Tilly surprised me by joining me where I usually sit in the evenings. She loved on my for a few minutes with head bumps and paw pats, then went to sleep (!) on her favorite lap blanket sans preferred human. That cat stayed there, silent, for several hours while I wrote and listened to music, even staying put when I got up for this or that.

Thinking perhaps my odd writing spot might mollify her the next day, I set up my lap desk there once again. The photo at top was taken when she first jumped up. Check out how she settled in.

Look at that Belly and Little Tan Chin Mark

Peace at last! What a relief.

Sweet Dreams, Kitty

As a bonus, Jezebel got behind me. That was pretty sweet.

Jezebel Hanging Out

Do you think she’s just spoiled or, as SO suggests, perhaps going senile?

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Guests in the Garden

Now that I understand how the code works, I've officially joined with Sandee of Comedy Plus and other cat lovers for Feline Friday. You can check out other kitty images at the bottom of my post. Meanwhile, here was my original post before Sandee kindly linked me up...

It has become our tradition this season to go out early in the morning while it’s cooler to tend vegetable planters and garden plots. Today no exception, I urged that we venture outside before full sunrise. And I’m glad I did.

Before sunlight heated me up I managed to rip out a huge load of weeds. Early on in the process, a praying mantis appeared. Knowing my husband wasn’t going to slog through crabapple tree branches like I did to see the little creature, I picked it up with care. Here you can see the tiny hunter, about an inch long, in the southeast garden patch.

A Favorite Insect

We also have flying neighbors. The vultures roost together in what’s called a ‘wake’. Once warmed by the sun they take off in so-called kettle formations (like a swirl of bubbles in boiling water) before dispersing. Today I didn’t experience large numbers as in past, but still appreciate seeing them.

Parting Ways

To be honest, the above photo of vultures and below of this hummingbird were taken a little later, after my breakfast. In fact, I photographed them in the process of writing this blog post. It’s behooved me to keep my camera handy. I liked how the sun shone on this little flyer.

Pit Stop

But I am still not done. Back to earlier, near the end of my weeding goal, I heard insistent meowing and spied a little tangerine colored tabby seeming just out of kitten-hood. With stinging sweat and the rising sun in my eyes, I didn’t recognize the feline’s undernourished condition.

DH did, and fetched a large disposable cup full of kibble and a paper plate. He even went back for a water bowl at my request. Left in charge of serving the animal, I poured about a third of the cupful on the plate.

About to Dig In

Then I poured another third, and finally the entire rest of what we had. Here is what’s left:

Maybe a Sixth of What I Served

And below is another shot of the friendly, desperate fellow. This pose (I saw some male bits when he rolled around at my feet later) really shows off how thin the poor guy is. After eating, he didn’t want to leave my side. Following me to a patio chair he either rubbed himself up and down my legs and feet or lolled between them. He also let me pick him up for a minute. I’m happy to report no visible sign of fleas or any injury.

Hungry Fellow

When at last he settled on the welcome mat, I rose to go inside for some much needed breakfast. He followed me into the garage. It would seem I have a new friend, and was told that I’m no longer allowed to garden. ~grin~ The cat looked ready to dash through the front door at one point but, sad to say, we couldn’t let him inside for fear of any infection or a fight with our old female cats.

The guy wandered off before I brought my plate of food outside. If he had not, he might be in my laundry room by now. My hope is to wrangle the cat for a checkup and neuter. Maybe he could fit into our little family. I don’t know.

Of course, my husband has said for years that he gets to choose the next cat (which he repeated, tongue in cheek, today) but I know he would accept this addition. Besides, we agree that God has put each of our three kitties into my path. If we were non-believers, we’d be saying that you don’t choose a cat, a cat chooses you. My big brother can attest.

How is your day shaping up?

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