Thursday, October 29, 2009

two cats, two televisions

Before I have my key in the door it starts. The meowing. An incessant meowing. Not a me-e-ow here and there, more like a staccato, with no pause for breath and definitely not drawn out. meowmeowmeowmeowmeowmeowmeowmeow. Then, she flops down in front of my feet with no warning, no change in her meowmeowmeow. We play for a bit. She may or may not eat, now that I am here. She grabs a drink of water, then ... pounces. I don't think this cat knows how to retract her claws. She kneads your neck. your neck!! I found some teatowels and learned to drape myself; the claws get through but not as sharply. We finally settle into a routine and I bring over an old toy of Abby's that she no longer bothers with. It is a flexible wire with bits of cardboard on either end. You can hold it with one hand and let it flop around and watch the cat do amazing pirouettes, flips and triple salchows and stretch every single muscle her body owns. I sigh as I think how I can barely straighten up after tying my shoes.

My cat, Abby is almost 15 years old. Maggie is a little over a year old. I often wonder what I will do when Abby is gone - will I get another kitten? an older cat? or maybe two cats?

I have noticed within the last couple of weeks that she no longer follows me every time I head for the washroom. She now barely even deigns to open one eye when I move. Lazy beggar. She's fine and healthy, just... old, I guess.

So, babysitting Maggie was an interesting reminder. I have heard, from my friend Brian, that she has become much more affectionate since he returned after two weeks away!

While we are playing with towels and bits of cardboard and wire, I watch TV. I soon started timing my visits to coincide with certain programs. That big screen ( 27", 32", I forgot to measure, but certainly way bigger than my 17") with HD and satellite almost had me gasping. I don't watch an awful lot of television, so never pay much attention to the latest innovations. I soon started rethinking that. Wondering just how much a satellite dish cost anyway... and now that my television has decided to be most unco-operative (it turns itself off whenever it feels like it and has a fuzzy reflection on the screen and I'm told: it's better to just buy a new one...)

So now, I am sitting here with a cat who may or may not have moved from her (my) bed since I came home from work at 4:30AM and no tv at all. I feel a little lost. Yet liberated at the same time. I have no idea what shows I am missing because I only check the listings if I know I can be at home and watch it. I can at least scratch behind an ear or two without having my neck scarred. And we both seem to have a lot of time to stretch out the massage. I should think about charging her for the hour. Nah, I'm getting my pleasure in reflective contemplation and warmth from a heavy cat stretched across my stomach and chest. It's lovely really, this slow, steady non- moving sleepy cat.

I went to the store to check out new televisions (if I am paying for cable, I should at least have the choice of watching it or not, yes?) and am still undecided. Then I wandered next door to the pet store. The kittens were sleeping.

23 comments:

  1. Cheaper than a new TV... watch TV on your computer:

    http://tinyurl.com/yhhxhe2

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  2. a good thought, Jim, but then I wouldn't be able to read blogs as I watch The Amazing Race (or whatever).

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  3. Having had only limited exposure to cats, I found this post very interesting and entertaining.

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  4. I swear after my current cat passes, I'm not going to have any more. Losing them makes me so sad.

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  5. You poor Squirrel. I always thought squirrels were much like cats in their fastidiousness.

    Yes, it does me too, Char, but I'd be sadder without one around - and 15 or more years is a long time to wait for that particular sadness.

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  6. Vi, that would depend on how much room on your computer screen you need for each task. I used to have a computer with a TV tuner; I would make the window for TV about 2 inches square, then set it to "Always on Top" so that it was always above any other window, then just drag it over to the corner. This worked great for me.

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  7. ...we have a gazillion channels but still always find there is "nothing on"!...Gotta get those extra channels just to watch the Red Sox though:)...One thing I do love is the recorder...any shows we do watch we record so that we never have to sit through any commercials...

    For me the best part about watching TV is having my cat sitting on my lap or on the back of my chair purring...

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  8. That all sounds so nice. My only advice is to ask Abby if she might like a companion. Let her decide.

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  9. I keep wanting to get a cat. Gom keeps insisting we do not need one..

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  10. What a lovely post. And one of the cats named after me!!!!!!
    I love cats (apart from their horrible instinct to kill birds)
    I really miss my three but they were not replaced when they eventually went up into the place where cats go. We decided that they were too much of a tie at holiday time.
    But I do miss the ear stroking and the kneading!

    Thanks for your kind comments over at mine.

    Nuts in May

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  11. Your cats sound so wonderful. We had a much loved tabby cat when I was smaller. As a kitten he was bombed out with us, and moved homes until we got settled again! He lived a long, long life, but I was so sad when he died at the grand old age of 17.

    I always love it when a cat is sgtretched out on ones stomach, purring. You can feel the purrs right through you. Lovely!

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  12. It's hard to watch an old cat slowing down, although they tend to remain remarkably graceful.

    Wow, by the way, those chrysanthemum below are astoudning.

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  13. Thanks for your advice, Jim. I will definitely look into this.
    I did realize while watching my friend's tv, Oliag, that even with his satellite dish there often wasn't much on. Most of the advantage came from being able to watch shows in different time zones.

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  14. Abby would NOT like to have another cat, I'm sure, Geewits. I am thinking of when she is gone.
    "do not need one"?! - bring home a stray, Meggie, and see if he changes his mind!
    I don't know where he came up with that name, Maggie, but it was changed from 'tinkerbell'! I'm fortunate to have neighbours in my building who will feed and water mine - she doesn't need much company.
    17 years is long time to bond with a pet, Gilly. He must have had some tales to tell when he got to kitty heaven!! I wish mine was more of a lap cat.
    Yes, they do remain graceful, SAW! And thanks, this is only the second year I've had a camera to take photos (just for all of you!)

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  15. Get yourself a nice new television and enjoy yourself watching the big screen. That's what I'm going to do when my television conks out and I hardly watch it, except for the news. Be a modern consumer! Go for the gold!

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  16. That's exactly what one friend of mine says, Nora, when she tries to convince me to get a tv like hers that self records and does wondrous things!

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  17. Abby: "Oh. You're going to the washroom again. So bored by that already. Why don't just learn to clean yourself as I do? Hoomanz are so stoopid."

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  18. Oddly enough, Mr Nighttime, that's when she likes to sit on your lap!

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  19. First, one never "needs" a cat and yet I have three! The thing is my kitties needed me...foundlings all, starving and ready for love.

    I have a 15+-year-old, too, and I'm sure when she's gone, there will be another kitty somewhere who needs a loving home, waiting to move into her spot right above my head on the pillow.

    You have a loving heart, Sanna. :)

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  20. I'm prohibited by the doctors from keeping cats and birds - I am not always sure whether I should be sad or glad.

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  21. Ah cats!!!A constant delight and mystery.Our old girl says "Me, now" I swear in a very demanding way.The young one, only 6, will never grow up,she remains a kitten forever. with a voice to match.Who'd be without 'em?

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  22. Yeah, that 'cat sleeping on the head' schtick is cute, Susan. Do any chew your hair while they're up there?

    I would be sad, RuneE. I still have a cat sleeping on my bed, even with my allergies.

    I'm fortunate enough to have a very quiet cat, GooseBreeder. Thanks for visiting.

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  23. I loved your post VioletSky and chuckled at the cat-antics. Thanks for visiting my blog.

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