Purrfect Gentleman...

Here is a prime example of the perfect gentleman; always dressed up smartly in his dinner suit (and ever ready to dine with great relish at any moment of the day); polite but not to the point of self-effacement (ever willing to wade into a sparring match with upstart males deemed to be getting 'above their station'); affectionate and companionable (ever eager for a kiss between the ears, but a hasty pat or sweeping stroke will suffice), clean about his person and well-presented at all times (ever prepared to preen those sizeable whiskers or groom his fine feline moustache); reliable in his habits (ever poised on his sunlit perch or posted by the door, prepared to welcome passing visitors). What more could you ask for from a cat?

Well, that is a question I ask myself every time I see him and the dozens of other beautiful beasts, with whom I have the privilege and great pleasure to spend time with each week. The reasons for their arrival are varied, and the manner in which they arrive too. Some are found errant in the city, some are brought in due to changes in their owners' circumstances, but others have fallen out of favour with the humans who initially (and presumably willingly) took them on, whilst others again are just unceremoniously dumped outside the establishment.

Every single one is surely bewildered and lost in every sense, yet they soon find new bearings. Some adapt and acclimatize quickly, others, frightened and fearsome, respond with hissing ferocity but all finally establish their own place in their new, hopefully temporary, surroundings. Contrary to common belief, many are actually quite content in their new milieu and everything is certainly done to ensure that this is the case for each one, means permitting. To observe a cat, scared and scary, open out to its companions - feline and human - is wonderful and humbling. Would we be so accommodating or gracious in the same position? I doubt it. The cats could teach us homo sapiens a thing or two about wisdom, though...