Haiku about Katrina Our Cat (1)

Our cat Katrina has a reputation that precedes her. She is known as a "mean" cat. But, actually she isn't "mean." She's more of a "I'm not taking any of your crap" kind of girl. If she doesn't like how you're looking at her, she will hiss at you, saying, "Hey, take a picture, it'll last longer." (Which we have, many, many times). If she thinks that you're walking past her too many times, she'll swipe your leg with her paw, as if saying "Enough with the pacing, give a girl some peace." If she doesn't like how you're ignoring her when she sits staring at you while you're eating ice cream, she will yell at you, saying "Hand it over, you selfish SoB." You get the idea. She just won't take your crap. It's her way, or the highway. 

Today, she watches me to see if I go to the kitchen. And when I do, she follows me, then zooms ahead of me toward her full food dish, looks back and meows at me. She wants me to replace the three pieces of kibble she ate an hour ago. "Replace them now, I say!" she demands. I ignore her. This is repeated again and again throughout the day. Well, I know when I have to spend more time in the kitchen later, she will follow me and watch me and start to yell at me. 

So, today my haiku is an interpretation of Katrina's vocals as she exerts her will.

I will torture you

with countless constant meows 

'til  you obey me.

Haiku to a Friend (1)

Dogs and cats--I love them. I keep an album for the dogs in my life. It contains pictures of Captain and Flash, two dogs we had growing up. There's Chico, Mimi, and Duffy, my three shelties, long since gone. Then, there's Snowie and TinTin, my sister's dogs. And I have pics of other dogs, who I've met along the way. We never had cats growing up; for some reason my dad didn't like them. Cats entered my life when I was in my 30's. And that is when I realized I could be both a dog person and a cat person. 

So, of course, an album exists, dedicated to the cats in my life. I came across it last night and peaked inside. I saw a gorgeous picture of Kit. He is on my mind this morning. It was he who taught me how wonderful cats can be. Kit was a cute kitten and he grew into a  big, handsome tom cat--a gray tabby with green eyes and a pink nose. Kit stayed by my side for sixteen years, until he passed away two and a half years ago. He was with me through many difficult times in my life-- a divorce, the death of my father, a peeping tom scare, a miscarriage. Kit was present at the excitement of new romance, a couple of fun moves, my wedding, finding our children. And there was my cat at the quiet, mundane times--cuddling up with a good book, cooking dinner, coming home from work. Always, Kit.

Today's haiku is inspired by my first cat, Kit, who, after almost three years without him, I still cry over his absence. 

Kit, my friend, my constant,

Through all my changes--good, bad

My Pet was present.