ITT: KATHY TALKS ABOUT HER CAT.
Feb. 17th, 2012 06:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kodalaiI've been thinking about making a post like this for a while. There's no particular hurry, but one of the purposes this journal serves is as a diary I can look back at in years to come. Some day, not today, hopefully not for many years, I will lose Chrestomanci: so I'd like to take the moment now, when my memory is still unclouded by grief, to talk about why he's so special to me.
Chrestomanci is an all-black kitty with mostly yellow eyes. He has a very few white hairs on his chest or belly, but mostly he is solid, glossy, thoroughly black. I decided when I went to get a cat that I wanted a black cat specifically, because they have a harder time finding homes. I asked the shelter lady for a few qualifications: a black cat, male, between six months to a year old, who was affectionate.
I got all that I asked for in spades, and more.
Here are some of Chrestomanci's awesome features.
1) He's adorable.
I wish I could get more photos of Chrestomanci being adorable, but I am just not a camera enthusiast and Chrestomanci is hard to get pictures of. In most settings and lightings, he just becomes a black hole in the background with big yellow eyes. And of course, whenever I pull out a camera, he gets very interested and walks right up to me to investigate, making it hard to get a shot of whatever adorable thing he was just doing. Plus, many of his most adorable moments are when he comes to cuddle up against me, which by definition would require someone else to photograph.
Nevertheless, Chrestomanci is a very handsome cat with big ears and a well-formed face and shape, with absolutely adorable attitudes and poses. He also has the softest, plushest fur I have ever encountered (and that includes the two very soft longhair cats at the old house.) It is literally like exceptionally thick velvet. It is also very glossy and sleek, something which I can't particularly attribute to my care of him, since he always ate the same food as the others. Only in the very brightest of direct sunlight does an underlying red tint begin to show through.
2) He's clever.
Obviously every proud pet owner or parent thinks that THEIR little darling is exceptionally smart, but I've known a lot of cats in my life, and Chrestomanci is very clever compared to most. He was the first one to figure out the cat door in the new apartment, even though he'd never used one before, figuring it out within a day or two; the other two cats took several weeks to get the hang of it, despite having used one in a former house! Chrestomanci is also the only cat I know who understands how laser pointers work (in a general way, I mean; even I don't understand how lasers really WORK.) When I pick up the laser pen, Chrestomanci gets very alert, and he starts looking at the ground where the pen is pointing instead of at my hand. None of the other cats have made that connection.
He also has figured out how to open doors and cupboards (alas,) that treats come in little plastic bags which can be chewed open (alas,) and that he can step on the electric blanket control to make the bed warm. Apart from deliberately getting under my feet while I'm turning around or leaping in front of my legs while I'm walking, he doesn't really do much that I would categorize as "stupid."
3) He's affectionate.
Although it was more obvious -- to the point of being annoying -- when I first brought him home, Chrestomanci is very affectionate and cuddly. He's not much of a "lap cat" (perhaps because I don't make very good laps?) but he always wants to be near where I am. If I'm reading on the couch, he'll curl up on the couch. If I'm on my computer, he'll curl up on the bed. If I move, he'll often get up and follow me -- even if I'm only getting up for a few minutes, to get a drink or use the bathroom, he'll come along as though to say "What'cha doin?" Any time I do something new, he wants to be in the middle of it (especially if that involves putting together furniture or making the bed.)
He will also come and cuddle up next to my legs when I'm in bed, although I throw him off if he tries to sit next to my head on the pillow. If I'm paying too much attention to the computer and not to him (which is always, as far as he's concerned) he'll come over and sharpen his claws on the back or armrest, meowing. (It's a mesh back -- he doesn't actually tear it, just threads his claws in and out a few times.) He will usually greet me at the door after work, demanding attention; he's very VERY vocal, expressing his demands in an urgent-sounding voice or just being "chatty" if I'm paying attention to him.
Overall, he has very good manners; he doesn't bite or scratch, and if he slaps with his paws, he keeps his claws retracted. I made an effort to teach him that hands are not toys for play, although when he gets hold of his kicky pillow, he can really go all out! He doesn't really like to be picked up for cuddles, but if I put his front feet over my shoulder (as I do when I need to carry him somewhere) he relaxes into it. At least for a little while! He'll struggle and complain to get down, but he won't go far; in a few minutes he'll be back, rubbing at my ankles again.
4) He's brave.
When I first brought Chrestomanci home, I put his bed, food, and litter in a shadowy corner in my closet in case he felt like he wanted to hide for a while. Not he! As soon as I opened the carrier he jumped out, and immediately began to explore his new territory. He even tried to explore the 'extra room' he saw on the far side of the mirror -- I laughed myself sick when he tried to jump through the mirror. This even emerged when I took him on the cross country road trip from Seattle to California. In the truck he'd be very quiet and subdued, but as soon as I arrived at the hotel room, he'd come right out and start exploring the new room, even climbing on top of the TV stands to survey from a height!
Some cats are shy, but even normal cats will usually avoid or be wary of strangers at first. Chrestomanci will walk up to a total stranger to say hi. During the halloween party at the house in Seattle, he was the only cat who ventured out when the living room was full of large, loud strangers; the others all hid in closets or under beds. Chrestomanci even submitted to having an orange napkin tied around his collar in a bow, transforming him into the perfect Halloween decoration!
Sometimes I wish he could be a little less fearless and inquisitive. He doesn't seem to have a proper appreciation of danger. He once tried to jump into an opened (turned on!!!) oven. I generally believe in cats being indoor-outdoor cats, but I would feel anxious letting Chrestomanci go out. He's not wary enough of cars, strange animals, or strange people. Plus the fact that he is all black and hard to see, I would worry about him getting hit by cars more than I would for other cats. So for now, at least, he will be an indoor only cat.
I am so, so lucky to have Chrestomanci sharing my life. Here's hoping that no accidents or untimely illness will take him away from me for years to come.
Chrestomanci is an all-black kitty with mostly yellow eyes. He has a very few white hairs on his chest or belly, but mostly he is solid, glossy, thoroughly black. I decided when I went to get a cat that I wanted a black cat specifically, because they have a harder time finding homes. I asked the shelter lady for a few qualifications: a black cat, male, between six months to a year old, who was affectionate.
I got all that I asked for in spades, and more.
Here are some of Chrestomanci's awesome features.
1) He's adorable.
I wish I could get more photos of Chrestomanci being adorable, but I am just not a camera enthusiast and Chrestomanci is hard to get pictures of. In most settings and lightings, he just becomes a black hole in the background with big yellow eyes. And of course, whenever I pull out a camera, he gets very interested and walks right up to me to investigate, making it hard to get a shot of whatever adorable thing he was just doing. Plus, many of his most adorable moments are when he comes to cuddle up against me, which by definition would require someone else to photograph.
Nevertheless, Chrestomanci is a very handsome cat with big ears and a well-formed face and shape, with absolutely adorable attitudes and poses. He also has the softest, plushest fur I have ever encountered (and that includes the two very soft longhair cats at the old house.) It is literally like exceptionally thick velvet. It is also very glossy and sleek, something which I can't particularly attribute to my care of him, since he always ate the same food as the others. Only in the very brightest of direct sunlight does an underlying red tint begin to show through.
2) He's clever.
Obviously every proud pet owner or parent thinks that THEIR little darling is exceptionally smart, but I've known a lot of cats in my life, and Chrestomanci is very clever compared to most. He was the first one to figure out the cat door in the new apartment, even though he'd never used one before, figuring it out within a day or two; the other two cats took several weeks to get the hang of it, despite having used one in a former house! Chrestomanci is also the only cat I know who understands how laser pointers work (in a general way, I mean; even I don't understand how lasers really WORK.) When I pick up the laser pen, Chrestomanci gets very alert, and he starts looking at the ground where the pen is pointing instead of at my hand. None of the other cats have made that connection.
He also has figured out how to open doors and cupboards (alas,) that treats come in little plastic bags which can be chewed open (alas,) and that he can step on the electric blanket control to make the bed warm. Apart from deliberately getting under my feet while I'm turning around or leaping in front of my legs while I'm walking, he doesn't really do much that I would categorize as "stupid."
3) He's affectionate.
Although it was more obvious -- to the point of being annoying -- when I first brought him home, Chrestomanci is very affectionate and cuddly. He's not much of a "lap cat" (perhaps because I don't make very good laps?) but he always wants to be near where I am. If I'm reading on the couch, he'll curl up on the couch. If I'm on my computer, he'll curl up on the bed. If I move, he'll often get up and follow me -- even if I'm only getting up for a few minutes, to get a drink or use the bathroom, he'll come along as though to say "What'cha doin?" Any time I do something new, he wants to be in the middle of it (especially if that involves putting together furniture or making the bed.)
He will also come and cuddle up next to my legs when I'm in bed, although I throw him off if he tries to sit next to my head on the pillow. If I'm paying too much attention to the computer and not to him (which is always, as far as he's concerned) he'll come over and sharpen his claws on the back or armrest, meowing. (It's a mesh back -- he doesn't actually tear it, just threads his claws in and out a few times.) He will usually greet me at the door after work, demanding attention; he's very VERY vocal, expressing his demands in an urgent-sounding voice or just being "chatty" if I'm paying attention to him.
Overall, he has very good manners; he doesn't bite or scratch, and if he slaps with his paws, he keeps his claws retracted. I made an effort to teach him that hands are not toys for play, although when he gets hold of his kicky pillow, he can really go all out! He doesn't really like to be picked up for cuddles, but if I put his front feet over my shoulder (as I do when I need to carry him somewhere) he relaxes into it. At least for a little while! He'll struggle and complain to get down, but he won't go far; in a few minutes he'll be back, rubbing at my ankles again.
4) He's brave.
When I first brought Chrestomanci home, I put his bed, food, and litter in a shadowy corner in my closet in case he felt like he wanted to hide for a while. Not he! As soon as I opened the carrier he jumped out, and immediately began to explore his new territory. He even tried to explore the 'extra room' he saw on the far side of the mirror -- I laughed myself sick when he tried to jump through the mirror. This even emerged when I took him on the cross country road trip from Seattle to California. In the truck he'd be very quiet and subdued, but as soon as I arrived at the hotel room, he'd come right out and start exploring the new room, even climbing on top of the TV stands to survey from a height!
Some cats are shy, but even normal cats will usually avoid or be wary of strangers at first. Chrestomanci will walk up to a total stranger to say hi. During the halloween party at the house in Seattle, he was the only cat who ventured out when the living room was full of large, loud strangers; the others all hid in closets or under beds. Chrestomanci even submitted to having an orange napkin tied around his collar in a bow, transforming him into the perfect Halloween decoration!
Sometimes I wish he could be a little less fearless and inquisitive. He doesn't seem to have a proper appreciation of danger. He once tried to jump into an opened (turned on!!!) oven. I generally believe in cats being indoor-outdoor cats, but I would feel anxious letting Chrestomanci go out. He's not wary enough of cars, strange animals, or strange people. Plus the fact that he is all black and hard to see, I would worry about him getting hit by cars more than I would for other cats. So for now, at least, he will be an indoor only cat.
I am so, so lucky to have Chrestomanci sharing my life. Here's hoping that no accidents or untimely illness will take him away from me for years to come.
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no subject
Date: 2012-02-18 03:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-18 04:38 am (UTC)this post gave me so many awws. u.u ♥
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Date: 2012-02-18 08:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-22 04:42 pm (UTC)Yes. I figure your cute and our cute black cats together average 100 in Cat IQ, especially if yours in the 200 range.
The cat we had most like Chrestomanci was one of the earliest, a Siamese named Galadriel, in Natchitoches, Louisiana. She quickly figured out how to work the latch on the window screen & go out; and she was utterly fearless. She was also short-lived, losing a one-sided battle against a car in the apartment complex parking lot.