When a cat knows he is to be fed within the hour

In a strategic surge, Baby (left) and Tiny deployed paws on the ground yesterday afternoon, securing and holding our computer desk and printer top as visions of Friskies Special Dinner with Salmon danced in their heads.

All animals all the time. It's the right thing to do.

1. Baby and Tiny applied the think system in the tense moments during the countdown to supper yesterday afternoon. With apologies to Samuel Johnson, "Depend upon it, sir, when a cat knows he is to be fed within the hour, it concentrates his mind wonderfully."

"Gato got another mouse tonight and brought it to teach the Chows how to be better mousers," emailed blogpal Barry Campbell of enrevanche last night. Now the blog post is up, and it's a keeper. (Barry Campbell photo)

2. "When I blogged about this last fall, some of you came right out and accused me of lying," writes Mr. Gato's human familiar, Barry of enrevanche, declaring triumphantly:

Well, now I've got proof: Mister Gato is trying to teach the Chows to catch mice.

We, of course, never doubted Professor Gato's tutoring skills. As we emailed our friend:

Mother nature takes no prisoners . . . Gato must be so proud of his students . . . Totally awesome shot on your part. :-)

We love blog sex symbol Elisson of Blog d'Elisson's take on Barry -- who's hosting the Carnival of the Cats #148 this week, by the way:

. . . the estimable and inscrutable Barry Campbell.

"He was talkative and grooming himself," Laura Lee reported re her precious tabby Captain -- Cappy -- the other day when the tide started to turn amidst a horrible scare after the kitty was administered the wrong pill. (Laura Lee Donoho photo)

3. "Captain wins another battle," writes Laura Lee, recapping a rough week for her grand old tomcat. It made our day when we learned he was on the mend.

Dozens more ways to make your day at the 122nd Friday Ark at Modulator.

Comments

[goomp]

No wonder they call it the cat's meow.

[Laura Lee Donoho]

Captain thanks you and I thank you for your kindness and comforting words these past few days. I am still crossing my fingers but Captain seems well on his way back to health. He's eating well, drinking well, and came to the door to greet me when I got home from school today!

I do think Mr. Gato could teach Captain a few things about mice. He caught one several years ago as we were getting ready for the great house renovation. But instead of killing it, he brought it up to our bed and dropped it at our feet. He's a big cutup I think.

[enrevanche]

Thanks for the link and the shoutout, Sissy.

Carrie and I live in an old New York City apartment building; it used to be swanky, and has some very nice features (high ceiling, big windows, etc.) but 60+ years of postwar rent control and concomitant landlord/owner neglect have taken their toll, and what was once chic is now shabby-chic at best.

The building, alas, has mice.

But as long as Mister G is on the job, we have no fear.

[Gayle Miller]

Tim the Siamese would lift his skirts and run screaming from the room - or consider the mouse a new plaything. Sam the Maine Coon on the other hand would consider the mouse a definite intruder in his realm and would dispatch it without mercy or delay. And then (horrors) present it to me as a token of his boundless affection! All of which makes me glad I don't have mice!

Cappy's recovery is welcome and happy news. The pics of Baby and Tiny are, as always, so soul satisfying! Gato is as efficient as he is beautiful. How can I love cats I've never met? Easy. I find felines to be infinitely lovable.