Long fellow

By Yetismith on August 7, 2024

6th August 2024

Little Man was placed in a small closed room after his surgery because of course, we were urged to keep him quiet for a couple of days.

Why do they always tell you this, when as everyone knows it is completely impossible to keep a kitten quiet?!

Later that day, I cracked the door a hair in order to sneak in with food and it shot past me like a blue streak.

Expecting Grant to grumble, I realised he couldn't because that morning he'd allowed the boy to escape in just the same way.

Fortunately he'd managed to grab the escapee before it could disappear to its hiding space downstairs.

There has been no noticeable change in the dear little lad's behaviour.

We are no closer to learning his provenance.

Our theory is that the boy escaped from a household where young children may have played with him roughly. He was clearly used to people but when we tried petting, our hands were nibbled.

He also likes chewing toes and ankles. Kittens have very sharp teeth.

So we have been teaching him to enjoy cuddles and he is coming around to that, sometimes even leaning into me which is very endearing.

Believing Little Man should have a proper name, now that he has apparently come to stay, I thought the other night that it had revealed itself to me when the boy threw himself on my bed.

"Longfellow!" I declared

Grant says not. So "Henry" then?

He doesn't look like a Henry, but he is a long fellow. He is the stretchiest cat I've ever met.

True, we are unlikely to be calling out "Longfellow" when we need him to come, but it could be his official name, no?

Tickling that long tummy, I cry: "Longfellow!"

I think he likes it.

Today it was time for Muffin's annual check-up.

We don't know her exact age but she is one of our older cats and she has always been delicate. She is a fussy eater and is inclined to hairballs.

We knew she had lost weight, but the amount was a little alarming and the doctor could find no obvious cause. X-rays and scans would only stress her and treatment is no option in an old cat.

We will love her and hope for as much time as possible.