The Cat's Tale
Dementia and I This is me - Paranoia are Mary MacWithey's cats. Brian, her husband, also lives here with us but she is our "main squeeze". Brian, of course, will do if I need some attention and Mary is not around. I can usually get him to rub my tummy for a while but it is just not the same.

Dementia and I are sisters and we both have short black fur and yellow-green eyes. Our nicknames are "chubba" and "skinny" which we acquired in our adult years due to our relative girths. My sister is the svelte one even though I eat no more than she. Life is just not fair. 

Even though this is also my sister's web page, I don't really like her all that much so I aThis is my sister - Dementiam not going to say much about her. Mostly, she chases me away from the food bowl and off of Mary's lap ... so you can see why I don't care much for her. She used to be more fun but is just an old crab now. I guess it could be her arthritis that makes her so touchy -- but that's really no excuse. Here is her picture. Notice the evil grin.
I have many likes and dislikes. I particularly like to sleep cuddled up next to Mary at night even though this is at the risk of being shoved rudely off the bed if she gets too warm. I am also particularly fond of a tummy rub which she does so well. My dislikes range from sudden movements and loud noises to empty food bowls and people who sneeze.

There are many things really I like about Mary. She feeds me, hugs me, and cleans my litter box, although not often enough. She often sits quietly for a long time, making her an excellent source of petting and brushing. (I am very fond of a good brushing, a pleasure I discovered late in life.) My sister and I both come running when we hear the brush sound.
Before we moved to Houston, Texas we lived in a townhouse in Wilmette, Illinois. I remember it fondly for the squirrels and birds that would perch on the phone lines that ran past the second-story bedroom window. I did so enjoy sitting on that window sill. The snow was also impressive. On the other hand, I got lost in the garages once and had to be dragged out by one paw. Definitely bittersweet memories.

One of the most character-forming events in all of our lives was being locked outside during a major thunderstorm when we lived in Plano, Texas. By the time Mary and Brian got home from work, we were frantic - and soaked to the skin. This little boo-boo on their part has caused us to develop the habit of dashing madly behind a large piece of furniture whenever a loud noise occurs. And, in our current Houston apartment, that is not infrequently. I also have recently acquired the nervous habit of biting my toenails even though Mary clips them. Somehow I feel compelled to do it. I cannot explain why. I think it may be that thunderstorm again.

Currently, we are living in a little old house in Fredericksburg, Texas. Finally we have our own home again. For a long time I was really scared to go outside except at night but this house has a BIG yard and I go out nearly everyday now. So does my sister now that her leg and chin aren't being treated with medicine anymore. Boy, she REALLY hated that. I thought she would never come out of hiding. But now she is back and things are settling down again. Even the fur on my tummy is growing back - my doctor said it was a stress reaction. D'uh! 

Oh yes. I guess I should tell you that in Fredericksburg we acquired two new cats. Not exactly my choice, I tell you. One was such a frisky little kitten Querida when she was a baby. she had to be put in a "time-out" room when she got out of control. I mean, she actually ran at 90  miles an hour around the house and dashed straight up a curtain. She even jumped on one of Mary's silk plants to the point of beheading one of the stems. She was a real PEST! 

Now she goes outside and runs 90 miles an hour across the yard and straight up a tree. Imagine! Too much energy for me. I have found growling at her to be somewhat useless too. She is a pretty cat though and quite small-boned. No weight problems here. She also talks a lot and knows how to drink from a cup. She wears a bell now so we know where she is most of the time. Mary was worried about her disappearing but no such luck.

The other cat is Angus, a big, dumb tom who just seemed to come with this old house. He fell madly in love with Querida but she never gave him the time of day. Eventually he got tired of waiting for her - or was it that operation he had? Angus hiding in a box. Whatever the case, he has blended in pretty well except for his tendency to get coated with mud, sand burs, and beggar's lice. What a dope. And he doesn't like brushing at all. He has had to go to the vet twice already for a shave. Mostly he just eats a lot, growls at us, and tries to play guard cat at the doorway. Unfortunately, Brian loves him a lot and they seem to be a pair ... when Angus wants to participate. So I guess he is staying.

 

And now I hear they are going to bring home a puppy. They must be out of their minds! Oh well...at least I can still get a tummy rub now and then.
I hope you have enjoyed reading about me (and my sister and those other two cats). I really must go now. The charming lizard that lived on our Houston patio has been replaced by dragonflies, squirrels, and sometimes a dozen guinea fowl. So much to see and so much to do. 

So long for now, P.

PS

Paranoia's and Dementia's spirits are both still with us - reincarnated as G.T., the tiny black kitten that we found in the top of our tree a week after Paranoia left us in late 2003 (he loves tummy rubs too) and Inky, the black cat with velvety fur who jumped up into my husband's arms one day on the street. He is the new top cat of our home. Querida, who did not like poor, sweet Angus and tried repeatedly to drive him away, accepted them both without a fuss.