Afternoon snack

Meera tracked an ant today, from high up on a window of all places, all the way down to the living room floor...and across to the kitchen, back to the tile of the entranceway. She'd sniff it and sniff it, and bat at it. She'd watch until it almost made it under the chair, then roll him back out.

I watched for a very long time (who needs tv when there are CATS?), and reminded myself that this dance is part of the natural order...and that the ant was probably a bachelor ant who was getting too old to avoid rooms with cats...and that maybe he had already lost a leg or two before Meera found him...he was tired of hobbling around, no longer able to carry 30 times his own weight. Yes, he was ready to enter that ant-hill in the sky...

He's gone now.

C3 (Entry 3): the Handshake

Grip one tiny paw as if you were going to shake her hand, thumb resting on top of the paw, other fingers below. Use your thumb to gently stroke the paw, feeling the tiny bones within. Enjoy the moment; she won't still sit for this.

Cat Caress Codex (Entry 2): the Knead

With your cat standing sideways to you, visualize her back as a loaf of bread, and place your hands accordingly. Now knead.

The day after cherry-picking

If you stare long enough...

...you'll see the handle of a pair of scissors in the lines of his beautiful face. Start at the nose, loop up and around those eyes... Kind of a mundane image, but I'm having fun Highlights Magazine for Children flashbacks...

Flirting with danger...

...and making me verrry nervous! He walks the razor's edge above a steep flight of stairs...

Wanted: Red cape & SuperKitty costume

Robins in the front yard

Cat Caress Codex (Entry 1): the EarTug

Begin by cupping your hand around the back of the cat's head, thumb in front of one ear, four fingers behind. Gently rub, applying slight pressure & massaging the base of the ear. End by gripping the ear tightly, but pleasantly, and letting it slide through your fingers til you've reached the tip. Release.

Waiting his turn

she stands on the (forbidden (yeah right!)) table, tail arched, back arched, neck arched, as i lightly scratch the flat spot on top of her head.

this is the only move that makes her stand still. during every other kind of caress (is there a dictionary of cat caresses?) she twists herself in tireless circles.

as i scratch, she lifts her left paw and curls it, then lifts her right paw and curls, then her left again, and her right. kai strolls into the room, and she opens her eyes long enough to take his measure. kai watches for a moment, then flops in the middle of the kitchen floor.