Anastasia, The Wonder Cat

Please allow me to introduce you to our family friend, Anastasia.  No, she’s not the Russian cartoon version of the musical girl searching for her heritage ( Anastasia, released in 1997).   Though, that is how her name derived.  I’m referring to our 15lb Tabby/Calico who runs our family show.  Whisper: Don’t tell her, but we let her think she has us fooled. 

Now if you are at all familiar with cats, you are fully aware that you must bow in their presence, like with our princess.  You are also particularly privileged if they allow you to enjoy their company.  You see, our Anastasia is rather sympathetic at times, when she senses your emotion.  She climbs onto your lap, insistently and presses her forehead onto yours.  She leaves it there until she can read your mind or you pet her, whichever comes first. The dominant side of her personality is comparable to girls in puberty.  No offense to adolescents.  We have two of them ourselves and they spoil her exceedingly.  Empathetic, you might say.

She’s no alley cat, mind you, but I found myself relating when I attended the musical Broadway of what must have been written at her request.  It has dancing animals, which depict her personality to a T.  Even if you’ve never seen it, I’m sure you need no hint.  Oh, you guessed it……CATS!

What was originally arranged as a kitten sitting week over 6 years ago, turned out to be abandonment by her owner.  We had found love at firs sight.  Though hard to believe now, she truly was a tiny little fur ball and quite skittish at the time.  We must have grown on her as she decided to let us keep her.

So many things about her are quite comical.  Fatty Cat being her nickname, has resulted from her triangular shape when she sits upright.  Her lower half is out of proportion with her head.   She guards the community food bowl and makes the others pets wait their turn.  She strategically places both paws around her food, and then lays down to dine.  I think she dreams of the lap of luxury, as her butler serves her with fine dinner ware like on the popular cat food commercial.  After her main course, she retreats to a warm bath and a little relaxation in her (um, OUR) bed or perched on top of the computer printer where she lounges while keeping a stern eye on us. If you disturb her, she freely lets you know.

They say cats are very safe if they expose their belly.  If so, then one could truly take advantage of her trust.   She lays in the middle of the floor on her back spread eagle caterwauling to demand that you come immediately to her and satisfy her need for a scratching session.  If you ignore her,  she protests and  falls asleep holding the pose. When she wakes, she sometimes  needs assistance to roll back over.

If I believed in previous lives, I’d have to say she was a dog.  If you call her when we’re running , she trots along beside you.  She even enjoys a good car ride and has been known to surprise you as something jumps from the back seat looks out of the window.     If she’s angry that you’re ignoring her, she’ll give you a swift swat with her paw and then head but you to ask forgiveness.  Her numerous other forms of entertainment have saved us many dollars on entertainment.  Everyone has memoriesof a favorite pet that has made and impact on their heart. When she uses up her remaining 8 lives, she will never be forgotten.