Dec. 9th 2009
It depends who you ask.
Hamish:
I've grown big and sturdy. I eat with the others. I jump on Mrs Danvers' bed - when she's in it! - and pounce on her toes. Sometimes I let her stroke me if it's in the middle of the night and she isn't sitting up. I might even purr and drool a little, or I might run away. I walk on the yard walls. I tolerate the dogs. I go bravely into every room in the house.
I am even more beautiful than when I arrived a year ago today. Mrs Danvers is privileged to have me in her house, eating her food, playing with her toys, and messing up her
Rachel (rudely referred to as Mrs Danvers):
He's grown because he eats surreptitiously during the night when no one sees him; at least he now shares the same bowls as the others. He plays on my bed, so long as we pretend the pounced-on toes aren't mine, and he flees if I sit up or let on that I've noticed him. He is terrified of the hoover, and extends this terror to poor tender-hearted Margery, who wields it.
He spends most of his life sleeping, tucked discreetly behind a chair upstairs. He looks balefully at me then runs away whenever I enter a room. He chirrups, rolls and rubs against Lottie, and mostly hangs out with Scooter, who could be a lot friendlier to humans without Hamish's bad example, but he makes it plain that - mostly - I am The Enemy; that's when I'm not being The Servant.
I have rarely stroked him, have never picked him up, and as for that fantasy of having him sit next to me on the sofa - well, pah! it won't be happening soon.
He is very bonny, though, with glowing orange fur that lights up a room. I love him, but think of him as a decorative addition to the household rather than a pet. An addition that snubs me, despises my efforts on his behalf, and makes it very plain that he is not grateful in the least.
Happy First Anniversary, Hamish! The Servant will be serving celebratory sardines for dinner. No need to say thank you.
December 2010
He is handsome, though! Happy Birthday, little one.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure he'll get there. It took Rupert about 10 years to learn to purr!!
oh, Hamish, give Rachel a chance... Six years ago I received little Susie as a gift from my veterinarian... 3/4 grown, had been hit by a car, her kittens had all died, Susie was one scared, shy little lady... she could wedge herself into the tiniest, weirdest spaces! Friends swore that she was a figment of my imagination!
ReplyDeleteHOWever, over the years she's become quite the social girl, snuggles on my hip at night, scootches down beside me in my favorite chair and tolerates being held (sometimes). She even comes out and checks out visitors if they're not too noisy.
So Hamish, happy anniversary... you're one lucky fellow!
Hamish, give it a go, could you?
ReplyDeleteMontague Streeb-Greebling (Rescue Cat) totally relates to what you're saying, and can still get very snarly indeed, over 2 years on. But in this weather especially, think how nice it is to have a warm loving home, and the chance of company, feline or human.
Jan x
Happy Gotcha Day, handsome Hamish! Our orangie, Nigel Basil Ratbone, took six years to become socialized, but it was so worth the wait. He lived with the human for 21 years and crossed the Bridge before I was born. I think Hamish just needs a bit more time.
ReplyDeleteHamish, you get more more treats when you allow the humans access to your fine self ... just sayin'.
'Kaika
Happy anniversary, Hamish.
ReplyDeleteCassie and Sirius hate the hoover too. I'm not very keen on it myself.
Hamish is such an attractive boy. I'll bet he still feels insecure. I think some time will mellow him; each one of them has a different schedule. When we first adopted Tiger we couldn't touch him. Now he jumps up on the bed and asks to be petted and stroked (but only when he is on the bed). Each has his own rules, I guess!
ReplyDeleteHamish, I admire your good yodgement. Weemen. Who needs them? Good por sardines, yes? I leebed ondhair a bed por a larng time. Corm oud when you are ready.
ReplyDelete