Jack has a younger brother—a cat named Rudy. Rudy is also “out of control” at times…just like his elder sibling. Rudy loves to tease Jack in a number of ways—including hiding behind walls, waiting for Jack to come around the corner, and then swatting Jack in the face with his paw.
Rudy disdains his scratching post. Instead…he prefers to claw the moldings around doorways.
Rudy is an indoor cat who is always trying to sneak out of the house. He is fast on his paws and often slips outside before his owners even see him at the door. One time, Rudy got up on the windowsill above the kitchen sink, pushed out the screen, and jumped to freedom.
In the past, Rudy has gotten into Christmas ornaments that are stored in bins in the basement of the house. He likes to bring them upstairs–along with screws and nails he finds while roaming around the cellar. Yesterday, when my daughter and her husband arrived home after being out for a while, they found that Rudy had knocked down the Christmas tree that they had just decorated a few hours earlier. There was the tree–prostrate on the living room floor–its white lights twinkling like fallen stars…several of its ornaments shattered…the carpet soaked with water.
Like his older canine brother, Rudy is also lovable and loving. He always comes to greet guests with his special “Rudy hugs.” He’s gentle and he never exposes his claws when playing with people.
I felt I shouldn’t play favorites with my daughter’s pets—so here’s a little poem in which Rudy talks about himself:
I’M CAT
I’m cat.
Come pat
My head.
I’ll purr.
Please stroke
My thick
And silky fur.
I’m clean,
Serene.
I lick.
I preen.
I sing.
I spring.
I’M the king!
– Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger