Merlin the magic cat

I have't posted much about my cats here on steem. I'm not sure why, maybe I have too much other stuff to say. Anyway, out of some 1150 posts I think only maybe 10-12 have featured my cats. Surprising considering the large role they play in our lives.

This is Merlin, the oldest of our cats. Due to his colour, and my limited photography skills, he is difficult to photograph although we still have many photos of the old fellow. Here is sitting in a basket. For some reason he loves sitting in things. Get a suitcase out to pack for a trip and he's in it. The lid comes off the laundry basket - he's in it. I put my laptop down and he's sitting on it. Weirdo.

He's twenty, an old chap in cat years. He's spritely though, runs around like a young cat and gets into mischief still. He came to us as a street-kid slinking around our back door, skinny and obviously in stress. I told my wife not let him inside as we already had our own indoor cat and true to form she ignored me. He was in and cuddling up with Dixie our own cat in no time. And so we kept him. That was years ago. I don't know if he was someone else's but after putting some signs up around the area no one claimed him. Fine by us. He was not chipped either so we figure just a stray.

He's a good natured-cat, loved Dixie and was fiercely protective, just like he is with Cleo now. Sure, he gets grumpy [like me] but he is a great-natured cat, loving, snuggly and funny too.

He's been slowing down a little lately though and whilst he seems ok we notice it and worry. Of course, we know he will leave us at some stage however we don't want that day to come too soon. We will be so upset. Each vet visit the vet says how good he is doing but he's started to loose a little weight now and certainly his muscle-tone is nowhere near as good as it once was. It's sad thinking about it I guess but even as I write this Merlin is sitting on his cat pole looking around, watching me and I feel fortunate we have him still. There's life in the old boy yet.

Losing pets is a terrible experience, although it happens. I recall losing Dixie (pictured above) and how devastated we were. It was in very tragic circumstances and took us by surprise. We invest so much into our pets as humans and when they go it hurts, but we do it again with the next. We cherish each day we have with our cats and, as a childless couple, pour a lot of love into them no different to people would with their children. We like our cats more than most people to be completely honest.

So the old fella, Merlin, is the head of our household, Cleo is his second in command, although she thinks she's the boss, and Faith and I are just the humans to be tolerated. That's how cats roll and we don't mind, they bring us a lot of happiness so we play along willingly.

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