very simple

Trying to limit myself to one cat photo a week, so I’m taking a cue from the rest of the Internet (at least for this week) and doing a little Friday cat blogging.

Yes. it’s another cat picture. It will probably be a theme. I pulled out the desk chair tonight to sit down and do some important stuff on my computer (or check Facebook. whatever), and sadie immediately jumped up and assumed this spot. the rascal.

That’s right – it only took three days, and I’m already resorting to cat photos.

The true test is actually traveling, but I recently bought Sadie a new carrier, as my old, backpack-style one was getting a little cramped for her – she was still able to curl up and go to sleep when it was flat, but when held upright (necessary whenever I actually needed to carry her anywhere), she looked like a poor hunchback and was clearly uncomfortable. In any event, the new carrier came the other day, and she now uses it as her bed half the time. And even when I’ve had to nudge her in there, she certainly doesn’t require a cat catcher!

As is common to (almost) all cats, Sadie is obsessed with boxes and bags. I can’t even put groceries down for five seconds before putting them away because she will try to climb inside the still-full bags. But, as a treat, I do always try to get the paper bags from trader joe’s so that she can have fun for a few hours before they go out into the recycling.

Sadie is not a particularly demonstrative or affectionate cat. She lasts about 20 seconds if I try to get her to sit in my lap, and she’d much rather curl up under my ottoman (where I can’t reach/annoy her) than anywhere else. She has always felt compelled to be in the same room as me, following from place to place, but she keeps a wary/respectful distance.

But in the past few weeks or so, she’s decided that she needs to be on my desk whenever I am sitting at the computer. At first, this amounted to stretching herself along the narrow strip of available desktop between the wall any my keyboard, usually with an attempt to co-opt my trackpad into some sort of pillow. For the past few days though, she’s decided that she would like to fit herself into one of the stackable baskets that I keep office supplies in. With the office supplies still in there (and not just stacks of paper either, we’re talking pens, tchochkes, extra computer cords, etc.). So this morning I finally gave in, cleared out the top bin, and put in the liner from her carrier (which takes up too much room in the carrier anyway). It took her about 3 seconds to figure out what I had done, and each time i sit down at my desk, she immediately parks herself in her new spot and starts purring REALLY loudly. I try not to anthropomorphize her too much, but I’d say I made her very happy today.

Since it’s gorgeous out, it was starting to get a little warm and stuffy in my apartment. So I opened the living room window (with screens of course). Sadie hasn’t moved since (other than to shift her position in between sitting up and crouching).

One year ago today, I was unemployed but still trying to be optimistic, and I somehow ended up adopting a cat from my parents’ vet. I viewed this as eminently optimistic, because I wouldn’t have taken on the extra expense of another living being if I didn’t think things were going to turn around soon. Two months later, I got a job, and it’s still going strong.

Happy one year Sadie – you are a monster, but are most certainly my monster.

Sadie’s been with me for 2 and a half months now, and I think she’s at the point where this is now definitely home, as evidenced by the fact that she sleeps like this in the middle of my bed:

Her other favorite activity (which she also did when living at the vet) is staring out the window at all the people that go by. In fact, the vet wanted to make sure that I had a window onto a busy street because Sadie liked people watching (and bird watching) so much. I particularly like how she perches on the radiator cover and windowsill to get the best comfort/vantage point, as if she’s parked herself at the neighborhood bar.

By her third day in the berkshires, Sadie and Ollie had reached a tentative detente. Which largely consisted of Ollie staying 2 feet away from her at all times and not making eye contact, in an attempt to get her to stop smacking him in the face. Here, Sadie has taken over his favorite spot in the house, which he’s had for 12 years, and he sits on the edge of the pillow pretending not to look at her.