Here kitty, kitty

Reading back through my 2007 posts, I am embarrassed, but somewhat tickled, by my effusive affection for my cat, Zippy. But, he is a very special cat, so please forgive me. We had another cat as well (Pixie), and although I never felt any excess love for her (she was hard to love sometimes), it was a sad day in February when she was diagnosed with kidney failure and we had to put her down. We figured we would have one cat for a while; but, like any mother who worries about the social needs of her children (even the furry ones), I knew we would take another kitty into our family so that Zippy wouldn't be alone.

So, thanks to a very nice work mate, we had the opportunity to adopt a cat in need of a home: Virgil has been part of the family for about a month now. The two bachelor cats have been settling in well together. (See how relaxed they are in each others' presence below?)

Zippy, however, is about seven years older than Virgil, who has reached the juvenile cat stage: he's very playful and rambunctious. He's a bit of a rebel, actually, in that he won't keep his collar on. Zippy has reached kitty midlife and his preferred activity these days seems to be sleeping.

So, it's been interesting to watch the interactions. Virgil has taken the offensive in the quest for play and is getting more into it as he feels comfortable with his new home. This morning I wish I had been able to capture a picture of Virgil leaping in front of Zippy. I didn't. I'm not so good at action shots anyway. But, I do have an example of what it looked like, and what it brought to my mind, below.

Have you read The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin? It's got to be one of my favorite books of all time. I read it more than a few times when the kids were young. And, I still read it every so often. The main character is an impertinent squirrel who doesn't give an old owl (Old Brown) due respect. On the contrary, Nutkin is constantly telling the owl riddles, making a nuisance and dancing about.

Nutkin became more and more impertinent—-

"Old Mr. B! Old Mr. B!
Hickamore, Hackamore, on the King's kitchen door;
All the King's horses, and all the King's men,
Couldn't drive Hickamore, Hackamore,
Off the King's kitchen door."

Nutkin danced up and down like a sunbeam ; but still Old Brown said nothing at all.

Anyway, eventually Nutkin goes too far: Old Brown catches him and takes his tail! Ah well, I hope Virgil doesn't go the way of Nutkin. I also hope Zippy still has some of the old Nutkin in him. We shall see...