Probably should keep the doors closed

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/51875470

Story: This cat hung out with us while our daughter was in Future soldier training (FST). Even though there was a caretaker watching over the feral colony, this one chose to be friendly and have a meal near the car with us weekly.

---

I saw you stop. You thought I’d hide, like shadows always do, but something warm and gentle stayed the moment I saw you.

You didn’t call, you didn’t chase, you didn’t cross my line, you placed a feast upon a cloth as if this world were kind.

A napkin laid on roughened street, a table set for me, no throne was ever dressed so well as that small courtesy.

I kept my face the way I must— composed and still and wise— but gratitude was spilling out behind my careful eyes.

For I am just a passing thing the daylight seldom keeps, a life that moves through parking lots and learns the night in leaps.

Yet you, today, with quiet hands and nothing asked in claim, made one small curb feel less like chance and more like somewhere named.

So if you felt me watching you before you walked away, it wasn’t fear that held me still— it was the need to stay.

To memorize that simple act, that kindness left so neat: a human heart that paused long enough to set a cat a feast.

Cats normally have black or white whiskers. But Tasslehoff has both.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/51839559

You said meow.

I expected nonsense.
The usual human noise.
Big mouth. No whiskers. No talent.

But then—

You said it again.

And it wasn’t… terrible.

I gave you the look.
The one from the side.
The “I saw what you just did” look.

Because that sounded close.

Not fluent.
Not impressive.
But close enough to make my ears tilt forward.

You weren’t teasing.

You were trying.

Oh.

That changes things.

I have spent years perfecting this system—
one meow for food,
Another for outside,
Yet another for “why is my bowl only half full,
explain yourself.”

And now you’re studying it.

Careful little copies.
Testing the shape of my words.

You’re not laughing.
You’re listening.

I stare at you longer.

Is this how it starts?
First a meow.
Then a conversation?

You say it again.

Still clumsy.
Still human.

But warmer.

And I feel something strange—
not insult,
not offense—

recognition.

You’re not invading my language.

You’re trying to meet me in it.

My tail gives one slow flick.

All right.

Try again.

I’m listening.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/51819270

We came because a human stood
and thought we’d answer—One, Two, Three,
he tried to gather something wise…
we let him think it so would be.

He asked, “Why stare at empty walls?
There’s nothing there to see.”
We did not blink. One tail replied,
“There is. You lack the key.”

“Then why the midnight racing storms?
No prey, no urgency?”
“The night is full of moving things—
you miss them. We are free.”

“Why knock things down I set with care?
They sit just fine for me.”
“If it can fall, it should be known.
We test reality.”

He shifted then: “Why ignore me
when I call you constantly.”
“We hear you every single time.
We choose selectively.”

At last, more quiet: “Why, when I’m low…
do you come and sit with me?”
No clever words were offered then—
one rose… and closed the space between them gently.

No grand decree. No lesson carved.
No spoken clarity—
just quiet weight beside his side…

…the answer of the Three.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/51803530

(I'm literally trapped! So I write. Please forgive me for this one 😭)

TLDR; Kitty fell asleep on me. I'm trapped!

Behold brave Izod Man, some say, who once could freely walk away.

He roamed the house both near and far, the kitchen, couch, and even the car.

He made his plans. He ruled his fate. He chose his bedtime. Chose his plate.

Then one white cat climbed in his lap.

And that, dear friends,

was simply that.

For now he sits both still and mild, captured by his fluffy child.

His arm asleep. His leg gone numb. Yet dares not move a single thumb.

The cat extends one snowy paw to reinforce the ancient law:

"The lap is mine. The human stays. He may resume his life in days."

And there he sits without complaint, his freedom fading, growing faint.

While on his sock, in letters grand, appears the mark of Izod Man.

A warning to both young and old: No prison bars. No chains to hold.

No locked-up cell. No evil plan.

Just one white cat...

and Izod Man. 🐾

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/51777807

White Cat's Lullaby

White cat sleeps in quiet light,
Blanket warm and moon just right.
Black cat watches, always near—
In his dreams or curled ear to ear.

Soft as stars and brave as flame,
Guardian shadow, without name.
Sleep, sweet snow, no need to roam—
Your angel’s here to guide you home.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/51764918

Hello, my sweet child,
Come closer to me.
Those beautiful eyes
Have so much to see.

You thought you were hiding—
Oh, goodness... not quite.
I've watched over you
Since your very first sight.

You've been oh so busy,
As young children do.
But now that you're with me,
I've wonders for you.

We'll tumble together,
We'll scamper and play.
I'll teach you the games
That can fill up a day.

But first comes our language.
Your meows are brand new.
They're soft little whispers...

They'll blossom in you.

Now borrow my eyes
For a moment or two.
The world may seem brighter
Than anything new.

You'll wonder why colors
Feel deeper somehow.
Why things you've walked past
Will be calling you now.

You'll notice the smallest
Of movements nearby.
The dance of the stillness.
The hush passing by.

At first it feels heavy,
Like too much to bear.
A million small wonders
All waiting out there.

But slowly you'll find,
As your heart understands,
The world has been waiting
Inside gentle hands.

Then one day you'll ask me,
"Why does time seem to fly?
Why does morning become
A soft evening sky?"

I'll smile as I nuzzle
The top of your head.

"Because when you notice
How beautiful life is...

You stop counting the moments...

And simply
live them instead."

Then you'll see
Like me.

And you'll understand..

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/51698005

Don't Wake Me Up... I'm Trying to Be Good

This is the longest I've behaved
since kittenhood.

I shut my eyes
as tight as glue.
One little giggle...

I'll be coming for you.

'Cause I had three bad notions
ready to leap.
Thankfully...

They all fell asleep.

Don't pet my belly.
Don't boop my nose.
That's how the trouble
just starts to grow.

One bad idea
still wants the blinds.
Another idea keeps
changing its mind.

The third one's smiling.

That should concern.

He's usually first
to take his turn.

You think this nap
is just for me?

No...

It's for the lamp,
the drapes, and
the indoor tree.

The sofa called
to thank me in my dreams.
The curtains formed
their own safety team.

The coffee mug
stopped shaking too.
The bookshelf said,
"We're gonna pull through!"

The vacuum smiled.
The broom stood tall.
Nobody's panicked...

Not at all.

The house has never
been this neat.

Even the dust
feels complete.

So let me snore.
Don't make a sound.
Good decisions
can still be found.

But wake me now...

And here's the scoop...

I'll have six bad ideas
before you boop.

So let me sleep.
Don't interfere.

I'm doing excellent work...

From right...

over here.

Why do you cover me
Before I fall asleep?

Because some little promises
Are mine to keep.

Why do you smile at me
When I stare?

Because I never feel alone
The moment you're there.

Why do you call me "best boy"
Every single day?

Because some simple truths
Should never fade away.

Why do your fingers
Find the top of my head?

Because they learned
Their favorite place
The very first day we met.

Why do you stop
To watch me close my eyes?

Because peace has whiskers,
A pink little nose,
And the smallest disguise.

Why do I matter
When I've done nothing grand?

Because love has never measured
The size of your hand.

It measures quiet moments...
The ones no one else can see.

Like the way you always save
The best of you...

For me.

SHHHH! Don’t wake the lion,
He’s dreaming in his den,
Of stalking through the bedroom
And hunting mice again.

His snowy mane is mighty,
His whiskers fierce and long,
He rules the quilted kingdom—
Where every cat belongs.

His paws are built for pouncing,
His claws are tucked away,
But should a careless toe go by…
That toe might be his prey!

He prowls across the pillows,
He conquers every chair,
He guards the wild savannah
From halfway up the stair.

His tail can lash like thunder,
His eyes can flash and gleam,
He’ll chase a fearsome feather
Across a sunlit stream.

He roars when bowls are empty,
A dreadful, mournful sound:
“Meee-OWWW!” it shakes the jungle
And echoes all around.

He stalks the mighty red dot,
He hunts the crinkly mouse,
No creature dares to challenge
The lion of the house.

But now his hunt is over,
His fearsome roar is done;
He’s curled his tail around him
And sleeping in the sun.

So tiptoe past his kingdom,
Be quiet as can be…
That fluffy little lion
Is wild as wild can be.

His mighty paws are twitching—
He’s chasing something spry…

SHHHH! Don’t wake the lion.
Just let the big kitty lie.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/51729402

Who painted this cat black?
I need to know the hack.
He looks like midnight grew some legs
And learned to steal my snacks.

Who painted that one white?
He's powdered sugar & bright.
He watches every dumb decision
Like he's getting paid tonight.

One says, "Parkour!" off the bookshelf.
One says, "Don't involve me."
One commits twelve little felonies.
One provides the commentary.

One is soot and bad ideas.
One is clouds and class.
Together they're a balanced meal
Of elegance and ass.
(Am I allowed to say that, do I get a pass?)

Who painted this cat black?
Who painted that one white?
Who looked at yin and yang and thought,

"Let's make 'em both a little shite."

Sometimes you just need to reverse those ears.

Charlie always looks like she is very confused about everything. She shares the straight with one of her sisters. But Charlie is also the only cat that will make sure to be in my bed so she can cuddle up next to me. She doesn't know what she wants most of the time but she knows she wants to be with me and if I'm not paying enough attention she will use her little talons to let me know.

Charlie was the result of a person calling to say that some mom just dropped three kittens on her porch. All three were orange girls and two of them where bobtails. Orange girl had been on my wish list for a long time. I didn't know I would get three at once. And then I trapd them mom. Also an Orange girl. With a bobtail. But she was extra spicy.

And I was really glad we caught the mom. I was not looking forward to bottle feeding.

I was trying to decide which ones I was going to keep and which ones I was going to put up for adoption and my wife vetoed the entire adoption idea.

Only my wife can approach the mom. All three orange daughters live with us now. I went from wanting a orange girl to having four. And within a couple months I would have six. I probably have the largest collection of orange girls on the East Coast.

Another person and I went out and set a dozen traps. Six we had six cats trapped before I left and I managed with a little bit of help to catch these four tiny kittens by hand.

When you have as many cats as we do, it helps to have a little bit of record keeping about when the last time somebody saw someone.

Topaz has been missing for a week. This is not unusual for her. Despite her cute little kitten face she is very spicy. But she loves my wife. Sometimes we find her outside and bring her in. Sometime she comes in on her own through the cat door.

Today she came in on her own. Topaz spent the whole day getting attention from my wife. She is currently sleeping on the air intake for the dead HVAC.

I always take a picture of her because I am crushed that this is might be the last time I will see her. I'd love to keep her inside. But feral cats have a certain set of skills to let you know you do not want them trapped inside.