Oh Yes, It’s Caturday!

Inscrutable Skitter

Our Schmooze Monster

It's official—Jen and Oni’s Skitter is now more feral-ish than Rocco.

Skitter was born outside to Trixie (who lives with a lovely woman in Portland, Maine now) but moved inside before her six month birthday. Four years later and she still runs from everyone but Jen. Only Saint Jen is allowed to pat or even come near her.

In contrast, Rocco ran away from his theoretical home down the street more than a decade ago. He’d been surviving here in the wilds of Hough’s Neck (Jen spotted TWO coyotes earlier this week!) all that time. OK, a few years-ish past, he claimed our porch as his own. It’s been a slender hair over a year since he let me come close enough to pat him. Then, four months ago, he moved in.

Coco, plotting her next crusade

Know what he did yesterday? While I was sitting on the couch, our former feral climbed half onto my lap and began kneading my thigh!

 Why do cats knead?

• to show contentment or alleviate stress.
• to create a soft place to sleep.
• to generate nourishment (sorry big fella, no milk here!).
• to mark their territory (yeah, like there was ever any dispute over the fact that Rocco’s the boss of me....except when Coco is).

Was this boy ever feral? Seriously—it seems his heart wasn't in all that Cat With No Name shit. Now, while he’s still not keen on company, he’s completely comfortable with The Amazing Bob (of course. TAB is the original Cat Whisperer). How long before our furry warrior sidles up to Baby Olivia to demand pats?

Coco continues to adjust to her new roommate. The litter box violations (I am SO taking a slash in your box!) and food bowl thefts (what’s this? You gave him a treat and not me? What? There’re three in my dish? Oh. nevermind) continue. I suppose they always will.