Abbie is in winter mode

Friday, 2:30 pm

By Kate

Sep

14

2007

There is something about cooler weather that makes cats desire closer contact with their humans. And not necessarily touching contact. At least that’s my experience with Abbie and others before her. Lately Abbie has exhibited a need to be close, yet not too close. Well, except for nighttime when she plasters herself against me—after the going to bed ritual of me holding up the blankets so that she can walk under them and sit for a moment, then walk back out. That must be repeated three times before she will settle down against me as snugly as she can get. On top of the blankets, of course.

But anyway, during the cooler days, she is my constant companion. Sometimes it’s as if the thought of me being out of her sight is enough to crush her little heart. Over the past week, she’s been constantly at my side while I’m at my desk, reaching up to pat my knee. Over and over. And then she wanders a few feet from me, studying my face for some sign of something.

A little while ago, I took out a fuzzy blanket and folded it into a neat little cat sized square and placed it in a corner, on the floor, right next to my desk and a couple of inches from the sliding glass door. That seems to be exactly what she wanted and she has given herself a long leisurely bath and curled up to take a long nap. Occasionally, she cocks an eye at me to make sure I’m still here. Between catnaps, she has enjoyed looking out the door to watch the birds or bugs or whatever catches her eye. She’s content. We seem to have solved the cool weather need for closeness to our mutual satisfaction.

I have to say that being able to look down at her, at will, gives me a huge amount of pleasure, too. I like having her close.