Yes…she’s here and not going anywhere, now…not even her lovely, home-y crate with toys, cozy bed and people fawning over her all day long (except no-one wanted her permanently). That would be the black kitty mentioned in an earlier blog…only now, of course, she has a ‘real’ name. Bellanotte…Bella for short and convenience when she gets into things she has no business doing (and that is a constant!). But she is coal black with the glossiest coat…Midnight would have been good but a little passè and since this name translates to beautiful night..it works. Now, the rest of crew may not be so enamoured.
Henry, the cockatoo, was heard muttering “Wanna go outside? Let’s go!” while the African Grey yelled “Knock it off!” as Bella pounced on his cage. Not much worries this bird…he’s around 22yrs. old, I’ve been around him 24/7 for better than eleven years and still he’d take me out if given half a chance…despite the fact that I do the majority of feeding, watering, treating. But Bella, for the moment, gives him pause for thought. I spotted him in the far corner of his cage the other day though he did deny the quivering I asked him about…would only say he was a bit chilly. At any rate, Bella does have to stop playing “Boo!” with the birds. For another reason entirely, and a number of years ago, we did actually have a bird collapse from a heart attack caused by fright. Mind you, he was 87yrs. old (yes, in human years) so not too surprising, if sad. We do have another bird…an Indian ring-neck…who does at least give us a heads-up on Bella with his screech of “What ‘r’ you doing? What ‘r’you doing??!!” and shows his appreciation of human rescue squad with “Oooh…THANK you!” We just have to ensure we are faster than Bella.
Now the cats…different story. Our oldest cat is very laid back and, so, well-named Mouse. He IS a mouse. We didn’t give him the name because of his personality…at six weeks old, approximately, that was as yet undetermined but he is grey and white and, at that age…as we took his first portrait for the family album, his ears seemed bigger than the entire body so thus we named him. He could care less..in fact we see him and Bella curled up in the chair, sound asleep and quite content. Nothing much bothers or excites him. In fact, the only thing that seems to effect the latter is Christmas when he loves nothing more than to sit on the woofer as the holiday music plays, watching the tree lights. First time we saw him do this and noticed his lips move we thought he was having breathing difficulty but, no…he was simply “ooh-ing and ahh-ing” at the festive display. Jack-the-cat, previously our youngest and who, at five years old never has outgrown kittenhood…he seems to suffer most from Bella’s presence for she chases and torments him. Given that he was the chaser/tormentor, he hasn’t a clue how to deal with this little one so runs off to hide. I feel so badly for him, being displaced so. Lizzie…well, she’s another story. She’s such a girl!! Screams at the least provocation…reminds me of that little girl in a classroom who, when the boy behind her pulls her pigtail she skirls like a badly played bagpipe or cries and screams because “he’s looking at me!” Bella takes great joy in creeping up on Lizzie to yank her tail or just sit there waiting until Lizzie turns to find Bella staring at her through slit eyes. Then the scream. Which is usually when Henry invites Bella outside. Can’t say I blame him, either. I would too if they all weren’t exclusively indoor cats. The fourth cat is the only one unaffected by the newcomer. Then again, nothing affects her for we are all wary. We’ve had her nine years, found as, we believe to be, about three weeks old and feral. She is one who, despite living indoors with her family of changing numbers, has remained mostly feral. She has her bed(s), cat tree, private cat deck where only the cats have safe access to the outdoors and fresh air. She even has a much smaller cat deck built specifically for her and her unsociable nature. Beautiful cat, difficult nature and temperament…doesn’t mind the dogs, hates the cats and is ambivalent about her humans. Bella…it’s as though she wasn’t even aware of this cat’s existence, avoiding her like the plague. It’s comforting to know that Bella does respect someone.
At any rate…she’s here…to stay, obviously, and they will just have to be left to finding their own way in the hierarchy. For the moment, getting there is every bit as bad and trying as this coming election.
