Tuesday, January 23, 2007

The Other Cat


The other day a strange cat came to our back door. ( I should clarify- strange as in new- not strange as in a cat with green and pink hair.) Stan was completely enthralled and watched this black and white newcomer with fascination; I think it's the first cat he's seen ( other than his own reflection which doesn't count anyway) since coming to live with us. The Other Cat would sit and stare at Stan and then suddenly launch himself at the glass between them. Or if he was at the window, he'd lunge and crash against the screen in an alarming way. Most intimidating behavior. Not really how I would choose to win friends and influence other cats. But then, I'm not a cat. ( He/She was probably just trying to play but it seemed extremely menacing to me.) It happened repeatedly and Stan would shrink back, startled, but then go right back to the window to stare back. And he meowed in a quiet, talkative way and moved from window to window as the Other Cat walked around our porch. It was almost pathetic to watch. I was a little tempted to let the cat in. But you know what they say about talking to strangers and letting them in your house - especially strangers who hurl themselves at your windows.

The Other Cat has returned a couple times. It's almost ghostly when you glance out your window at night and see a dark kitty head looking in at you. Stan stirs up the most unholy, piteous, yowling fuss whenever the Other Cat leaves. It's almost got me thinking we should get a second cat just so Stan can have a feline companion...I guess I'm crossing over into a different realm of pet owner. Part of me feels guilty that he's an only cat; but then the other part of me ridicules that first part. In short, I am conflicted. I am afraid that if we get another cat, Stan won't be as apt to cozy up to me and nap in my lap. He'll be too busy playing with his brother cat. ( We will not be getting a female- fixing or no fixing.) And what if I love the second cat more? Or worse- what if Stan hates him? What shall we do? ( Oh WOW- I AM a real pet owner- I just dug grunchies out of his eye!)
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10 comments:

Gimli said...

Will we be reading these sorts of posts when you are a parent?

Amy said...

Ahhh, eye grunchies!!! I HATE those, they're so yucky!

And I'm having the same worries about June! I feel bad that she's an only dog...she gets so excited when we see another dog on a walk, and she looks so sad when I've been gone all day...but I worry that she'll feel unloved if I pay attention to Dog #2, that she won't want to share the attention. Or, like you said, what if I love Dog #2 more?? That wouldn't be fair to June. Or what if Dog #2 is bossy and intimidates her?

This parenting stuff is hard.

ljm said...

Grunchies!? I feel sick.

I'll just warn you that it sounds like good reasoning and that's why we got a second cat but they have fought from the moment they met. They really seem to despise each other but I know it can work the other way around too...so...who knows.

KW said...

haha!

How did you manage to take the pic so quick like! (before he runned away)...

redsoxwinthisyear said...

grunchies? That's just gross.

pennyjean said...

Ewww to eye grunchies. And if you're going to get another kitty, get one while Stan-the-man is still young. You know me. I'm all in favor of more cats. The more the merrier.

bettercountry said...

My current apartment is on the ground floor (terrible...) and there are two cats who live outside. I was sitting in my reading chair the other day and looked up to find one of them with his face pressed against my window. It's creepy.

Shari said...

That picture cracks me up!

I've heard that two male cats often don't get along well, but our Tugger and Gilbert did okay together. Then we got Bonnabelle, and Tugger and Bonnabelle became the most lovey-dovey partners (even though they were both fixed). Bonnabelle is the most cuddliest lap kitty that's ever existed (and no, I'm not biased LOL), so the other cats didn't make her less affectionate.

Booker said...

it will be a gamble if you get a second cat whether they will get along or not.

and just remember, a second cat means twice as much grunchie[which by the way, reading that almost made me throw up!]

Kristi said...

Wow, I'm impressed -- I'm a cat freak and I won't even wipe my cats eye grunchies!

I'm with Penny -- the more the merrier! I would have several more if my mom let me. :-( But then, I'm not sure Cheeky could handle the competition.