I have a very bad record regarding cats. I love them, and never regard a home to be complete without one. However, I am unreliable. I gave "Lily" to an old people's home when I decided I wanted to live in America for a year in the 80s. Then, when I left America, I gave "Nebraska" to a woman who worked at the local vetinary clinic.
"Dillinger" lasted a long time.....but after 13 years I gave him to our lodger, partly because she was distraught that we were moving and taking him with us, but also because we were moving into a rented home for a few weeks....and having a cat wasn't convenient !
Most recently, recognising that flitting between Yorkshire and the Languedoc, would not provide stability for 10 year old "Elijah", I gave him to Carole and Peter.
Wandering around the garden here in Caunes the other day, I think I found the answer......basking in the sunshine, behind the house, between the washing line and the pine forest.... I saw, the one I intend to call Monsieur le Chat.
He is a real bruiser of a feline.... scarred, raggedy ears, and so tough looking, I am sure he can cope with my unreliability. I presume he technically "belongs" to someone else, but in recognition of the fact that people can never really own a cat.... they are clearly the dominant element in any relationship..... Monsieur Le Chat et moi are going to get on well. I don't have to worry about looking after him, we can just share the same garden from time to time. I love him already.
Absolutely the best sort of relationship - a garden-sharing one.
ReplyDeleteI shall be so happy when I eventually have a garden again but I don't think I shall share it with a Spanish cat! Did you know animals have national, possibly regional, accents? Spanish cats make the most AWFUL noise. If you don't believe me, listen out for French sheep - they also sound nothing like English ones, which have such a nice, friendly sort of vibrato - go on, Janice, I'm not being silly!
Ax
I replied to this Annie, but its somehow not connected with your post....i still have very little idea of what I'm doing here ! xxx
DeleteHe's magnificent, Janice. Another cat person here, who can't have cats at home because of being always in transit. When we're in France we always have cats from the neighbouring farm wandering through our garden, but last year we had the fun of one of those cats having a litter of kittens in our woodshed. They provided the subject matter for several blog posts. :-)
ReplyDeleteI am about to search out your cat blogs Perpetua....it is hard not having a cat roaming around the house though, I hope this large black beauty continues to bask in the sunshine near my washing line.
DeleteActually, I noticed a field of French sheep today on a drive back from Pezenas..... and although I didn't stop to listen to them, I did think that they looked very different. I think Monsieur le Chat is a strong silent type though... he will merely look at me in an arrogant manner....but I dont think that is to do with being French, just with him being a cat.
ReplyDeleteI hope your' search for a home and garden comes up with somehting suitable soon. x