Susie-Q&A

• Feb. 2, 2007 - Pet Blogging

We have two pets now, considerably fewer than the huge number we had in Georgia.

One is a gecko who is hardy enough to withstand living in a Rubbermaid container--because someone-who-will-remain-unnamed rolled a boulder into his cage--as well as weeks without food and water thanks to his forgetful owner. I had a horrible suspicion he was dead and was unwilling to lift the lid to confirm it, so I sent his owner to do it. Miracle of miracles, she poked him and he moved. So, fed and watered, he continues on.

This is Neena:

Neena is a blue-point Siamese. I wrote about her when I first started up here at Homeschool Blogger, but she hasn't gotten as much press from me as she deserves.

We've had Neena almost as long as we've had Chicken. She came to us just as Chicken turned a year old. Neena is ten years old this February. She's getting a bit more crochety in her old age, yet she is still incredibly patient with the unwelcome interest of our babies and toddlers. They adore the cat, but the feeling, alas, is not always mutual.

Pudge finds her hilarious. A couple of nights ago, he yelled and screamed with laughter as Neena played in packaging from a box that came in the mail. She batted the paper and skittered in and out of the box as we scratched on the outside of it, jumping on top to investigate the source of the noise. She is amazingly playful for a cat with her years.   She still loves to chase a string and will park herself beside it to keep watch after we drop it.

Like most Siamese, Neena "talks" a good deal.   The other night, she jumped onto our bed meowing, and DH tried to stuff her into her favorite spot: under the covers right next to him. Normally, she settles right down and basks in the 98.6. However, that night she would have none of it. She scooted right back out, looked and me and said, "Maow!" quite pointedly.   As we don't speak Siamese, we shrugged and figured she was just sounding off. But when I walked into the bathroom, I saw what she was trying to tell me: her litter box was backed against the wall with the opening blocked. I had moved it after cleaning it earlier that day and hadn't put it back in place yet. Oh yes, she WAS trying to tell me something, quite plainly! LOL! I moved it, called her, and she immediately took advantage of the now-available facilities.

I'll never forget the time I forgot to refill her food bowl. Now, I normally don't neglect the cat, so don't go labeling me a bad owner. This was back in the days of babies, babies, babies, and the cat just wasn't as high on my priority list. It was easy to forget about her. She paced the kitchen meowing, while I scolded her and hushed her, my back to her, and pored over whatever it was that had my attention at the time.   Finally, she had had it and, in a huge leap from the floor, landed up on my back to get my attention and rebounded again to the floor! That's when I noticed the empty food bowl. It was totally out of character for her, so she must have been hun-gry!

Neena ran away from us two or three times in Georgia, never longer than three days. She's an indoor-only cat, but in Georgia she spent a lot of time pining at the windows and doors for fresh air and salivating over the cheeky little birds that frolicked right in front of her. The first time she ran off we were distraught. The children and I knocked on doors and distributed flyers, but not a single neighbor had sighted her. She finally returned, skinny and rumpled, three days later, and there was great rejoicing. It had been a comfort to think that at least she had all her claws. (We don't believe in de-clawing cats, as the condition of our furniture attests. I have since learned of cardboard scratching pads and she faithfully uses hers now.)

I hope Neena has a lot of years left to live, because we will truly grieve when she is no more. She is the best of all the cats DH and I have ever owned, separately and together. I'm gratified when I remember that all the Siamese I have known have lived to a ripe old age.