To My Cat, Upon Her Persistent Nagging

A meditation on feline behavior

I stroked your back

Softly,

I cleaned off your

Bed;

Stop bugging me,

Damn it,

You've already been

Fed.

Author's Note

Actually, I serve as staff/referee to two aging female cats, Francesca and Cosette, who cordially hate each other.

Reviews

[Dave Brown]

they are lovely creatures but would be even lovelier with their bird killing gene removed
mice allatime allight

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, Dave. Mine have not attacked any birds because they are indoor cats. But they are hell on each other.

[Dave Brown]

God bless you brother John

[barleygirl]

This is universal for cat people & dog people. The way one of my pooches will fuss around like she wants my attention, but as soon as I settle in to do some tummy rubs, her attention gets snagged elsewhere. It's a thankless task, trying to anticipate their needs & your poem captures the irritable nature of one who's given about all he can give (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, bg. For my cats, cuteness absolves a lot of sins.

[Broken.]

Haha. My cat is the same way. I feed him, I pet him, I clean out his box, and yet every morning I hear his persistent song. He adores me and I him. He is also quite popular. Any visitors that come by always want to steal him from us. Maybe is talking s**t behind our backs....

[John the Baptist]

Thanks. So true. Still, I wouldn't trade them for the world.

[Broken.]

No not ever! Lol

[Chris Shaw]

Cats have the upper hand. They are the masters. You will never get one over on them. Not only have they got nine lives, they are far more intelligent than they are given credit for. Our cat Myron kisses and licks me and with the next breath draws blood :) Never stops eating.

Chris

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, Chris. I often recall John Wayne's comment on cats as Rooster Cogburn in the original "True Grit.": "Ya don't own a cat, ya just room with 'em."

[Chris Shaw]

He was right. They do their own thing and in the loyalty stakes, don:t expect anything :))

[Robert Trakofler]

My cat maurice is the most particular fuzzy feline I have ever been owned by... he is the most feral and yet the most ridiculously princessy cat! if he can see the bottom of his bowl forget about relaxing he only eats one type of food it is the most expensive food one can buy if by chance the market does not have this food he will not eat anything! he was never taught how to use a litter box but he still scratches (everything) after using the litter box but the one thing he is supposed to scratch... the litter to bury his poop he is annoyed by the smell but doesn't have the sense to cover it up! so he scratched the outside of the box the floor the doorway etc etc until from exasperation i have to walk over and scoop it away:/ oh the list of his quirks would take volumes! I just know his mother dropped him off at the store because she knew he was "special" and would not survive in the wilds... Lucky me

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, Bunny. I think what attracts me to cats is their innate arrogance and presumptuousness. They just assume they have the right to use you as a warm blooded piece of furniture.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, they do that. My Hank is a queen, I am her servant.
Oh those names of yours are great...

and I like your oxymoron on how they "cordially hate" each other.

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, j. Dogs are deserving; cats are entitled.