Thursday 26 March 2015

Odin, Buffy and other feline home dwellers

Well, I am writing the outcome and conclusion of Buffy's visit here far sooner than I expected. Her owners were meant to go on holidays, some issues with the tickets and the schedule made them miss their flight. So they got Buffy back this evening. I have a confession to make: I am glad it was shortened like this. Because Buffy did not settle well here. In fact, she did not settle at all. She whined a lot, was restless and jumping nervously everywhere and at any time. When she was calm, she spent time underneath the table or behind the washing machine. When she was calm. if not, she was meowing plaintively. We went to bed early and she woke us in the middle of the night. She did ask for cuddles and attentions, but overall she was restless and far too nervous.

I can't help but compare her first (and most likely last) time here with Odin's.  It took him about five minutes to be settled. He had a walk around the flat, sniffed here and there, curious but not afraid one bit, then he just found his favourite spot (the place on the sofa where I usually sit) and just sat down there. And that was it. He meowed for cuddles, food and to go outside sometimes, but he was never spooked here. I am not blaming Buffy: she was brought up differently, in one family, she has  always been not only a house cat, but a one house cat. Odin had ever been the wanderer, moving from Florida to here, then adopting us. He chose to move here, he asked for it. All the same, even though I love all cats, I do think that we are meant for certain cats more than others. And, while I enjoyed sometimes Buffy's presence, it made me miss my little boy more. I decided to show one of the few pics I haven't published yet of him. You can see him lying down next to me, taking as much space as he could and clawing me a bit so I would give him a bit of my seat for his legs. Odin's presence can still be felt in the house: Buffy was sniffing the bit of the floor where he used to lie down.

3 comments:

Nellie said...

Oh, I think Buffy sensed Odin's presence, and that unnerved her. It has always been difficult for me to predict cats.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Odin was an incomparable cat.

jaz@octoberfarm said...

i guess it worked out best for all of you!