How the Cats Are Doing

A Friday Hodgepodge

We acquired Lucinda in late August and Seymour in December. It's time for an update.

1. Lucinda has grown quite a bit and fluffed out, especially around her head and neck. Consistent with my past experience with female cats, she doesn't like being picked up or held very much.

When she's in the mood -- unusual and hard to read -- she can be very affectionate, but if she doesn't want attention, watch out! As it is, she has possibly the worst control over her claws of any cat I have ever had, and has a strong wild side. I sometimes warn the rest of the family that she's in raccoon mode when I think it maybe isn't the right time to try to pet her.

Getting Seymour has helped a lot with this: My read is that raccoon mode is when she's feeling playful, and that, for whatever reason, she never quite learned that hands aren't toys to swat at.

2. That said, Lucinda is gorgeous, getting her the nickname, cutie cat, out of me and an extra picture here, courtesy of my daughter.

Cats, being graceful, have a way of naturally striking beautiful poses. Being clever and curious, they also pop up in funny places. Since we all have phones, it's fun to share the occasional candid cat shot with each other.

3. With Lucinda's raccoon mode already evident and Seymour being about the size of a hamster when we brought him home, we were at first concerned that leaving them alone together during our holiday travels might not be a good idea.

We were happy to be wrong about that! He acclimated so quickly that he had the run of the house after only a couple of days, and that gave us ample time to see that they get along very well together.

in addition to the two being playmates, Lucinda seems to show a maternal side to Seymour. In the mornings, when I set out the wet food, she always lets him eat first.

4. When the cats are chasing each other around, there is always entertainment potential. For example, as I was dressing one morning, Lucinda was chasing Seymour full tilt and he ducked under my chest-of-drawers at full speed. Lucinda stopped briefly and, moving side-to-side a bit, squished herself down enough to follow, albeit having to shove her hindquarters the rest of the way underneath.

What I wouldn't give to have that on video!

-- CAV