Tom, a common tabby but a noble cat

The Christmas Cat

Tom is all ready for Christmas.  He has had a warm bath and is so clean and feels so fresh that he is planning to go caroling tonight.  Now Tom is very well behaved.  He does not knock the ornaments off the Christmas tree or jump into the tree or attack it in any manner.  The fact is, he mostly ignores it.  At first he was a bit disturbed when the lights were turned on, and at the same time a small sound of carols began to play.  The sound is small and sllightly tinny, not like the fuller sound of radio or television.  But he soon got used to it.  I always turn off the carols when I'm not going to stay near and listen.  With his usual nonchalance, he stalks off to sit upon one of the different chairs I have just put in the living room, to replace a worn one.  He appreciates the new and different and can't wait to initiate it to his own comfort.

I had always heard that cats do not like to be in water  Then not long ago, I heard someone say they knew a cat or two who actually swam in water.  Now that seems to be contradictory to cat nature.  So when I bathe a cat, I always prepare for the charming creature's struggle to get out of the water.  You may find this helpful when you want to bathe your cat.  If you have double sinks in the laundry room, or the kitchen, this arrangement is ideal.  Fill one side with warm water and Woolite and the other side with warm rinse water.  Have one or two large towels (beach towel) at hand.  {Or wait until summer, and with the hose fill a bucket with water.}  Be brave.  Place the cat in the Woolite solution and rub the fur, keeping the face out of it.  Then place feline in the rinse side and rub the fur free of the suds.  Remove cat from basin and place on towel and rub briskly.  When as dry as you can rub the fur, place the cat alone in the utulity room, or bathroom, and close the door.  Give her, or him, time for grooming in his, or her, own unique way.  Then let your friend out when sufficiently dry, and enjoy the satisfaction on your cat's face.  Maybe, you'll be rewarded with a definite purr.  Merrie Christmas to you and your favorite fur ball.

Tom has been most affectionate lately.  Just before Thanksgiving my back spasmed, and I had a dreadful night.  Maybe you know such nights when you are so uncomfortable you just can't find a way to relax and drift into that glorious sleep which must keep you smiling in contentment all night long.  It was the day before Thanksgiving, and I planned to call and cancel my part in the family plans for dinner.  Before I could move, the phone rang.  My daughter had to tell me she could not get time off for Christmas, except for the one day. As she lives in Texas, she couldn't come to Oklahoma and get back to Texas in one dayto go to work and still enjoy Christmas.  "Well, I won't make it to Thanksgiving dinner," I moaned.  Back to bed to try again for a few minutes of sleep.  The phone rang again.  My chiropractor concerned about considerable tightness at my last visit.  He is thoughtful, calling frequently to check on my status.  (He even visits his patients when they are in the hospital for any other purpose.) 

After doing my best to state the symptons I had suffered without sounding too "done in", he instructed me to come in the following Monday for another back check -- like a booster shot.  Back to bed just to be quiet and try to sleep.  As the day went on, I succeeded in putting in three naps and felt better by evening and prepared myself a light meal.  During the dayTom curled up at my back during the naps and jumped on my lap when I got up to sit for a while. 

Now Tom knows my bed is off limits for him.  But when I lie down any time during the day (these times are most infrequent) he knows.  He has a strong psychic sense.  I can count any low number, and he will find me and climb over me, often shoving his head under my empty hand to have his jaws and chin rubbed.  But eventually, without response from me, will back up against my back and curl up and vibrate.  Tom's purr is a steady vibration and a suggestion of a real purr.  Whydon't I shove him off then?  Because, I don't want to wake up enough to expend the effort.

The end result of that experience was that Thanksgiving morning, having slept some more during the night, I felt much better, only slightly weak, but not too much to attend our traditional get-together.  The one I go out of town to the home of another of my children.  Christmas they come to me.  For Tom's part, he has followed up by continuing his affectionate attention.  When I sit down to do something, he is there for my lap.  That includes work at the computer and his paw reaching for my right hand typing.  I can't resist taking his paw, holding it loosely.  He lets me hold it.