Recently I’ve written about Dogs and have been possibly a trifle unfair to cats.
After all we have had a long line of cats. Maybe it would be strictly accurate to say the cats that have lived here have allowed us into their lives from time to time.
Our first was the black and white above, Sisyphus who arrived on the 1st December 1986. The tabby, Crocket came in 1988 and the other larger black cat, Boots arrived in the mid 1990s. Crocket and Boots had relatively short lives, Sissy made it to 16, but when we lost Boots to an accident a couple of years a after he arrived we were pressed by the the kids to take another.
In the end we took sisters.
They were both very content in each other’s company. The one on the left, Tikka was the explorer, a mouser and tough little thing. Nutmeg, in the pose you see was pretty much always sitting. A lazy thing in truth. And utterly indifferent to any of us, especially me. I provided food. End of.
The Vet had a magic touch, of course, but the rest of us were mostly ignored.
It was easy to capture Tikka as she’d stroll around the garden…
With Nutmeg, the pictures tend to show her with her back to me…
Cats are sentient and sensitive creatures. When Tikka died in 2020, Nutmeg grieved. That may be anthropomorphising her reaction but she changed. She sought out laps; she rubbed the fruit in the fruit bowl as once she rubbed heads with her sister; and she cried, loudly mostly demanding food but maybe it was also about comfort. She sits on the key pad or the Textiliste’s sowing machine. She’s now the Dowager Nutmeg, so grumpy yet demanding is she.
Today, as I typed, she joined me on the table, waiting her turn.
The eagle eyed amongst you will see that her whispers are serious structures and her coat isn’t as groomed as you might expect. Nutmeg, our very regal cat is ancient. That picture above, with her and her sister in the cardboard box? It has a date on the back. 1997. If she continues on her eccentric way she will reach her 25th birthday in May.
There’s something to be said for doing bugger all after all…
TanGental 
Cats can be so funny. We have had our share as well. We can´t have any here in Spain as both dogs hate them. I love the picture of the cat and the dog sleeping on the sofa together.
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That is becoming a recurrent theme as they both age and reach the stage of “not bovvered’ about the other.
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Kind of like an older married couple I guess.
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Super post
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^–^
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Cool.that could be your meme
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I do like dogs but I’m very much a cat person. Perhaps it’s their loving but independent nature! Nice one Geoff!
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Thanks. Mine have mostly been on the independent side of the spectrum but as they age they mellow
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Bit like humans, Geoff! Lol.
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Very…
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Twenty-five years is something of a record for a cat. I loved all of your catty pics! 🙂 After cleaning cat hair for the last five days since the cats have been visiting Aunt Cindy, I’m wishing there was an easier way to keep the dander down for my allergic friends. 🙂
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My brother in law pretty much has to stay outside because of his allergy. Poor thing.
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What a grand old lady, she obviously is in her right domain. Can sleep for hours is well fed and warm and receives lots of attention , love and cat cuddles.🥰💕💗.
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Hi Helen. Yep she’s ruling the roost!
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Twenty-five? That’s amazing and a testament to the care her loyal servants give her. Ou Lucy lasted to 20 but didn’t look nearly as good.
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A purr-fect post for Caturday, Geoff. Hugs on the wing!
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Beautifully and perceptively written, Geoff.
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Great post. Our oldest made it to 22. The rest were in the 15 to 16 category.
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Wow, she certainly is an old lady! I hope she makes it to 25. Love her choice of bed – the washing up bowl. Cats are strange critters.
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Totally bonkers
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That might explain why many of us like them. Bonkers cats, dogs, people: who can resist them?
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Agreed.
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She looks pretty good for her advanced age.
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Cat are amazing, your right they live at our houses by their choice, only and the tolerate us!
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Wow. Twenty five is a ripe old age. I must start doing bigger all!
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I’ve been practicing my mindful laziness. Sort of droop yoga…
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Ah the truth comes out as you secretly love – at least your — cats.
Re anthropomorphism, I had two cats that I got as kittens — Zing and Zoe — and Zing got sick and died after 14 great years and Zoe, who was healthy when Zing died, stopped eating and died nine days later. Cats are totally clued in.
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Yep. I think so too
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A Grande Dame, indeed. 🙂
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Wow, Geoff, 25 years old. I hope Push-Push, my little ruler of the house, lives to a good old age.
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She is a force of nature. Can’t imagine her gone.
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