Beware the Bad Cat Who Holds A Grudge
It is a cold and drizzly day today. It is Sunday, but I came into the gallery to get some painting done. I love Sundays. I get to keep my doors locked and work in undisturbed tranquility. Well, except for the cat.
The lighting sucks, but I am still determined to get some actual work done on my latest painting. Taking a break here to plug in a few words for todays entry. My cat Oliver, has obligingly followed me from my drafting table to the computer. And is hunched over my shoulder purring loudly. His little eyes are closed and he looks completely adorable. Every few minutes he gives me a gentle head butt and increases the volume of his purring. This is his way of reminding me that he is there and that he has nothing but good intentions.
Oliver has a Jekyll and Hyde personality, so it is important for him to be as sweet as possible when he wants something. The Evil Ollie is someone to keep your eye on. If he is in a mood or if you have offended him in some way. He will wait up to half a day for you to be unaware, so he can dish out his punishment. Punishment usually comes in the form of a slap and fake bite to the leg accompanied by a stern Meow! But so far today he is all cuddles and sunshine. Trying to sit on my lap while painting, to sit on my lap while reading and currently stealthily trying to get to my lap while on the computer.
A while ago, I was sitting on the couch in the front room with someone talking. Oliver jumped up on the couch and placed his front feet on her chest and examined her closely. Then for absolutely no reason, he slapped her! You could actually hear the tiny pads smack as they connected with her cheek. I nearly fell off the couch in laughter but then quickly scolded him for it. He always meows as if to say sorry, so sorry. But then he sits down smugly, looking quite proud of himself. Oddly enough, the Evil Ollie behavior seems to be quite attractive to actual cat people. A type of person that I don’t consider myself to be. He has his own admirers who come to visit him regularly at the gallery. They seem to find the snubbing and the biting and the slapping quite charming. They try to garner his favor with toys, treats and compliments. He, like any good ruler of the universe, looks them over, blinks, then slowly turns his head away as if to say, “I’m bored, you aren’t even worth the effort it takes to look at you.” and promptly ignores them.
Tags: cats