SOAKING UP THE SUN

 

I've just come back from a family visit in England and here is the first of my sketches in my mi-tientes sketchbook,  a friend's cat sunning herself in the window of their summerhouse.

The Grey Cat - Maree

"Of all God's creatures, there is only one that cannot be made slave of the lash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve the man, but it would deteriorate the cat."

- Mark Twain

A few weeks ago, a grey cat appeared on my doorstep. Actually, at my bedroom door one night, much to the consternation of Jacko, who excitedly went to investigate, but she disappeared into the garden, with him doing an hour long search, but coming up with nothing. I thought it was just one of the locals coming in for a visit, we often have neighbours' cats popping in to see how we are!

However, that was not the end of it. The next morning she was back in the house, rubbing up against my legs as I was making a cup of coffee, and Jacko quite unawares of this, as he was snoozing on the chair in my studio. What could I do but offer her some milk, which she lapped at furiously, as if she hadn't had anything to eat in days. I sent hubby to the shops for some Catmor, and she cleaned up a whole bowl full, finishing off with another drink of milk. Then she took up position on the shelf under the kitchen table, and that's when the trouble started...

Every time Jacko tried to pass through the kitchen on his way to the garden, she furiously charged out from under the table, sending him hastily scurrying back to the studio. I think she had marked her territory and no dog, not even the resident King, was going to trespass there. I had to put her outside every night, for we got no sleep with all the yelping and growling and hissing coming from the lounge and kitchen every time Jacko tried to go outside. Then we had to put up with the meowing and calling all night long, as if she'd been living there for years and being outside was something new.

This carried on for a few days, as I was quite content to just let her take up residence, she didn't seem interested in my birds at all and was extremely loving, and Jacko was very interested in having a friend to play with. Until on the fourth day when she ferociously attacked Jacko and actually drew blood. It seemed to be a stalemate. Jacko was quite prepared to be friends, but she had other ideas. The outcome was that we took her to our local SPCA and for a large donation they were going to spay her and find a new home for her.

The thing is, we live way out in the country (Tarlton, South Africa), and I know all our local country cats, who pop by from time to time, and she definitely was not from the area. She also showed signs of having had kittens, her teats were filled with milk and already starting to harden, heading for mastitis as they were not being relieved. I think that someone had dumped her alongside the road, probably after she had had her kittens, which they probably also "got rid" of. I personally cannot understand that kind of behaviour - it takes little effort to have her spayed to ensure you don't have any more cats than you want....

What the cat brought in!

Every Spring I have a problem with the cat's catching lizards, they never kill them , just bring them into the kitchen to play with. Lizards being lizards, the first thing they do on being caught is to let their tail go, so I rarely see one with a complete tail. They are an easy mark at this time of year, as they are still sluggish, being cold blooded and sunshine scarce. Despite the name, Common Lizard, they are far from common in Ireland these days, so I feel very priveleged that there is a healthy population in my area.

Ginter Tabby - Maree Clarkson

An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language.

~Martin Buber

"Ginger Tabby" in Moleskine Watercolour sketchbook

This Ginger tabby is the bain Jacko's life - it sneaks into the house every night to eat his food, and as soon as Jacko hears the tell-tale tinkling of his food bowl, a big chase ensues, with the tabby leading the way, jumping up on the boundary wall and disdainfully sitting up there and watching him scrambling around below. I managed t get a photograph of him sitting on the wall and he wasn't much concerned about me, just kept an eye on Jacko.

Rupert(ina) the cat

Rupert the cat, originally uploaded by Elizabeth Smith.

Rupertina the cat

Blogger's note: Originally I thought Rupert was a male cat, but "he" is indeed a "she" and I've edited my post to reflect this.

While she isn’t technically a “nature subject,” I’m including her here because she’s now a part of the environment, like it or not. Rupert is not our cat. I’m not sure she belongs to anyone, but she likes to visit us here at work about every two days for dry kibble, water, and a belly rub.

She’s a friendly cat, used to people, and especially seeks out girls and women. She startles easily, though, and is wary and street smart. Someone cared enough once to bond with her and to give her attention…on her visits he seems to crave touch as well as food.

She may live here in the industrial park in someone’s workshop, or we may just be on her list of places to wander in the early evening. I suspect she was abandoned – possibly by a family forced to move in these tough times.

~ Elizabeth Smith, Naples, FL, USA