I moved two weeks ago hard, from the city to the country. In addition to my husband and Jack Russell, Kermit, I also moved with Cleo. Cleo is a feral male grey tabby (cat) born in my back yard in Queens 4 years ago.
I never wanted a relationship with Cleo. In fact, for the first year I shoooed him and his little siblings out of my yard. Kermit wasn’t a cat lover and I profess to being a bit of an amateur birder and thus provided a bird friendly atmosphere for the birds which didn’t allow for cats, as it were.
But then one day after chasing all the adolescent kittens out of my yard, I see one little grey tabby sitting in the corner watching me with a whimsical curiosity on its face. (I originally thought Cleo was a female and named her accordingly, Cleopatra. The name was later changed to Cleo. Do the math.)
So, what happened then? I melt immediately and run into the house and grab a handful of Kerm’s kibble and set some out on a paperplate for the cat who will go on to own an outdoor heated igloo and six to eight cans of the best eats my $ can buy while Kerm and the birds look at me with betrayal shooting from their eyes, beaks and sweaty cat hating teeth.
Enough of the back story and to the real point of the matter, we move Cleo the feral but not so feral cat up to the mountains thinking he’ll be as happy as pig in slop.
Well, Cleo wasn’t happy. I think he hated me and proceeded to hide in my basement for two weeks only coming out at night to do catty clandestine operational activities. During the day he stayed clear of me favoring high places which proved a better vantage point for hissing at me while throwing me stinky feline eye messages.
Two weeks later…
The best thing ever just happened, just moments ago. Cleo came down from the basement rafters and rubbed on me and his whiskers twitched “ebulliently” as he purred and kneaded in play. And, I’m sure it was more than my wishful thinking that I discerned a bit of forgiveness in his gait…and then he walked a few more feet away and pulled a Cool Hand Luke maneuver turning to throw me an old, “I’ll see ya around funny lady” superior kitty kat grin.
I have my friend back. This is a good day.
Meow meow
theaflys 