Daddy the Cat

[Bertha Venation]

This is Daddy


He came to us a bedraggled stray. Not neutered. Ears torn. Filthy and raggedy. And hungry!

We fed him on the deck for a long time, until he came to trust me. He was my buddy outside. He'd flip over for a belly rub and grab my hand affectionately, and lick hell out of it.

After a while, we took him to the vet to be neutered, checked out for diseases & injuries, and cleaned up. He got his shots. We made him a house cat.

It wasn't long before he proved to be the most irritating pet either of us had ever known. He gets on the counters and knocks shit off to get attention. He is at our feet every second we spend in the kitchen. When we cook or put away groceries, he gets on the counters to see if he can help or steal or lick or taste or just generally annoy. When we eat, whether in the living room or at the table, he has to eat what we are eating and he has to eat it right now. He has knocked food off forks.

He's also the most aggressive cat I've ever known. He has most of the other cats cowed. Richard has taken to peeing wherever he wants in protest of our having made Daddy part of the household. (He also does it because Daddy often won't let him get to the litter box of his choice.)

It's because of this behavior of Richard's -- that's all but ruined our terrific couch -- that we've decided to return Daddy to the outdoors part time. Yesterday morning he slipped out before we could catch him, and he spent the whole day outside. He certainly can't "cat around" in the carnal sense, but he kicks the ass of any tomcat who dares to come to his house.

He was waiting on the porch, exhausted when we got home last night. He hardly bugged either of us for our dinner. He fell asleep on Mrs. V.'s lap, then came to bed with me and barely moved all night.

This is my cat. I adore all our cats, but Daddy and I are it. I love my Daddy cat.

If you made it all the way through this narrative, you must be really bored. I just felt like telling someone about Daddy.

[flamingyouth]

1. I love your pics and stories about Daddy

He reminds me of Papa (I also sometimes call him "Big Daddy"). Papa was a stray who's now an indoor/outdoor guy. I tried keeping him inside when I moved to my current house, but I kept catching him trying to sneak out of open windows (just like a juvenile delinquent!) so I let him out. He stays far away from the street (cars terrify him, mercifully).

But, like Daddy, Papa is SO much happier when he can patrol his turf like a little sentry that he is. At sundown, it's hilarious - he walks the perimeter of my property, and once he's sure all is well, he can come in and plop down for the night.

Happy Holidays to you, Mrs. V., Daddy and all your loved ones, human and feline. :hug:

[Bertha Venation]

7. Hmm... Papa.

Merry merry, FY. :hug:s to you & yours.

[Phillycat]

2. Isn't he GORGEOUS!

:loveya:

[Bertha Venation]

try this photo, jane...

[Phillycat]

5. Hee hee! Who's so dirty?

[AlCzervik]

3. i love this story, you are kind hearted.

My Dad has a cat his name is Arlo, aka Arlo the destroyer with kind of a similar story. Arlo now spends his days outside romping and is at the back door every night promplty at 5:00.

[ET Awful]

4. You can tell by his face he's got an attitude :)

He sounds pretty cool to me :)

[Patiod]

6. He's a beauty

"It wasn't long before he proved to be the most irritating pet either of us had ever known. He gets on the counters and knocks shit off to get attention. He is at our feet every second we spend in the kitchen. When we cook or put away groceries, he gets on the counters to see if he can help or steal or lick or taste or just generally annoy. When we eat, whether in the living room or at the table, he has to eat what we are eating and he has to eat it right now. He has knocked food off forks."

My Little does all of that (I love the way she graps at the cereal spoon to get some of the milk) PLUS she knocks the alarm clock off of the nightstand, (I've overslept more than once because of this), and she creates a ruckus around 4:30 am in order to get fed.

I will NEVER feed another cat wet food in the morning - biggest mistake I've ever made. After one particulary hard night, SO and I awoke around 9am to find the place TRASHED - things knocked off every flat surface, plus magazines, mail, and bags ripped to shreds. She was angry because no one had gotten up to give the cat wet food (there was plenty of dry in the dish).

[Bertha Venation]

9. I learned that lesson, too. Never feed wet food in the morning.

Harry used to get in the window and pull the blinds out, then let go so they'd bang in the window frame. 4:00-4:30 AM. Every day. Drove me nuts. Cats are fast learners; humans, slow!

[HEAVYHEART]

8. Fitting

That name sure fits him. Thanks for the story. I enjoyed reading it and I can tell that you're a very cool and loving person. :)

[Bertha Venation]

10. Fitting name indeed. We think he's the daddy of two of our

other cats, and kin to most of our feral colony. :bounce:

TY for your kind words. :hug:

[roguevalley]

11. Reminds me of my black American shorthair, Mama Kitty. She

had two batches of kittens but would crawl out of the box if I didn't sit and pet her during her ordeals. Needless to say, I can never eat sushi. Ever. :+

[Bertha Venation]

12. I think I get the sushi reference....

but I'm afraid to ask if I'm right. :dunce:

[Cuban_Liberal]

13. awwwww...

He's PURTY, Kim!

:)

[Bertha Venation]

15. yeah, i'm so lucky

we're surrounded by four-pawed furry love. :loveya:

[barb162]

14. Hey, I will ready anything/everything about cats (I have 4)

and this puss is a cutie. My cat Babe also likes to knock things off counters to get attention. He was agressive and territorial and pushed the other cats around until he got older; he's 14 now.