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Daily writing prompt

What’s a topic or issue about which you’ve changed your mind?

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I think I am known as a cat lover. I currently find my life led by two adorable Bengal/Tabby mixes. Prior to them was Her Imperial Majesty, Xenia, Empress of all she surveyed. Before that had been the incredible Sidgen of the double paws. But the cat who turned a sort of studied indifference about cats was Clancy J Bumps – AKA the Grey Menace.

It’s true that before Clancy, I was mildly interested in cats, but not wildly enthused. The little grey street ragamuffin off the streets of Ottawa took me and my attitude in paw. I was rapidly converted to being an ardent cat fan. Well, some would say servant.

Not Everyone’s Favorite

Clancy was not everyone’s favorite cat. I had a landlord who loved his dogs and hated cats. He thought it might be cool to let the dogs loose on the cat “for shits and giggles”, but Clancy tore up the dogs. He made the mistake of asking for payment of the vet bills. I merely pointed my finger at him, looked at the cat, and said, “Kill! Clancy, Kill!!” Both he and the dogs went running to their apartment. Clancy just sat there looking bored. There was just no challenge in it anymore.

He considered himself to be a gourmet, preferred steak and filet mignon to cat food, and had a critical taste for only the finest of catnip. Surprisingly enough, after a battle with another cat, he frequently got friendly with them. In the shade of the backyard, there could be a small federation of cats enjoying nip, chowing down on snacks, and dissing the neighborhood dogs.

One final point, I found through a challenging experience that he had better taste in women than I did. He detested my first wife and was displeased with a mountain-sized assortment of others. He rather pointedly attempted to convince me that others were more suitable, but I never listened. Finally, it became apparent that he worshipped one girl that I dated. She stayed over one weekend when I had to travel for a conference. When I got home, he was cuddled in her arms, and made it clear that “look, dummy! This is the One!” At last, I listened. He seemed to audibly sigh in relief when we married.

A Teamsters Local

Each cat has, shall we say, feathered the nest for the next. There are pillowed retreats, places where cozy cushions are laid and window sills kept clear. The word around the house is that the household pets are Teamsters Local 8 and have an ironclad contract. Food at these times, snacks at those. Other rights as described in the “contract”. And yes, the dog is a card-carrying Teamster too. Of course, I am a retired United Parcel Service employee, a UPSer in our parlance. I was also a Teamster before I “took the tie, and went supervisory.” So I recognize trouble when the “contract” is cited by a deposition from the shop steward.

?Kitty Cat Television?

You could pile a raft to shoulder height with “needs” of our spoiled kitties, but who else would bother walking up and down your spine in the morning to wake you up? How in the world did you cope without the cheerful task of changing the kitty litter box? And in recent years, as monitors and video quality have improved greatly, there is a new need to be met. Yes, cats and birds on the computer screen. You’d like to read a news report, but Sabrina is interested in the video of birds.

Just this morning, another blogger posted a series of videos featuring the vocal hijinks of cats. Sabrina got interested, and I had to replay the series for her so she could get the essence of what those poor cats were complaining about. Was breakfast late? Were stupid humans refusing the legitimate desires of poor kittens?

Coming soon: video streaming services for cats – Catflix.