The dark corners of the medieval imagination

The Babe on a mousing expedition this afternoon in the tunnel Tuck excavated last winter in the basement to get access to the broken steam pipe. Note etiolated stems of Ailanthus emerging from the mound, stage left.

Baby Cakes as the force of darkness. He turned on us big time this morning -- nothing personal -- when we were trying to hook him up to his harness outside. Tiny was already out there on her end of the harness, so we had to carry him out there unattached. Usually we do all the hooking up inside, so no problem. But today the cord got caught up in some twigs and leaves, we took too long, and he went berserk, glomming onto our hand and wrist with tooth and claw. We were in full shock-and-awe mode -- afraid he might get away and head for the deadly street -- grabbing him by the scruff of his neck the way mother cats do with their kittens to immobilize them, but he is so powerful that it was touch and go all the way inside as to how badly we might be mauled, as we clamped him between our ankles and walked him, duck-waddling-style, back into the house.

Baby's mousing expedition above called to mind "The Temptation of St. Anthony" by Hieronymus Bosch, who "was preoccupied with themes of torment and the sinfulness of man, which replaced earlier, more optimistic visions of Christ and the Virgin with feelings of anxiety, fear, and guilt."

Once inside, we called loudly and desperately for Tuck to come help. Tiny came scrambling in, crying in anxiety at her brother's yowling, hissing and spitting, not to mention Grandma's panic. Tuck came running downstairs and poured on a bucket of water -- with Pine-Sol -- that he just happened to have on hand as he was in the middle of a major cleaning project. That did the trick, and Baby released his claws and ran off upstairs.

"The sources for such unusual images were the dark corners of the medieval imagination, the gargoyles and monsters of cathedral decoration, and the marginal illustrations of books and popular prints," says the Hieronymus Bosch web site. No wonder they feared pussycats as witches' familiars. They are not to be taken lightly.

We ran our wounds under running water and applied Bacitracin with bandaids, and only moments after the horror of it all, Baby was back downstairs having both forgiven and forgotten all. Compartmentalization, thy name is kitty cat. They know everything, and we ignore their psychological messages at our peril.

Comments

[Teresa]

Keep a really close eye on those scratches and be sure to head to the doctor at the least look that it is getting infected! One of the kitty cat difficulties - those claws. Glad to hear Baby was none the worse for wear.

[pb]

Damn, Sissy! What a scene. Bet Baby doesn't remember a second of it. Gotta respect the tiger behind the tabby...

[Laura Lee Donoho]

Oh Sissy, how traumatic for all of you. Sabby is extremely possessive and when we were just home from Germany and trying to reunite all the cats, Captain, Sabby, Abby, Bear and Amos for the summer Sabby took it very hard.

He especially didn't like Bear and I got in their way once and Sabby bit me hard on the wrist. It became infected and I had to have a shot. I still love my precious, jealous Sabby. Should have called him Heathclift.

[Scott]

Sissy, you should definitely go to the doctor; my mom got bitten on the foot many years ago and had to go to the ER due to the infection. Cat saliva is nasty stuff in a wound.

Quite the little force of nature is Mr Cakes...

[GayleMiller]

Sissy - maybe it's something in the angle of the moon or something. I took my little Tim for his shots on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. and ever since, in ever diminishing amounts, Sam has been actively hostile to Tim and not terribly charming to me (except for his 4 a.m. forays into my arms for snuggles). I pretty much think your home applied first aid is sufficient unto the situation but keep an eye on your "owies" and if there's any swelling then head for a doctor post haste.

Meanwhile, Baby is still an absolutely mesmerizing beauty! And Tiny is clearly a sweetheart of a kitty, somewhat akin to the ever lovely Tim!