When Kid 2 left for university, there was no question that she'd be taking Lily with her. Lily was her cat, and with the move into the isolated room at the University of Toronto, during the pandemic, Kid 2 was going to need her more than ever.
Of course, when Kid 2 came home for the holidays or for class breaks, Lily would come home, too, though it wasn't an easy transition for her to go from being the only cat in a dorm room to being one of four cats in a big house.
For the first couple of days, Lily would growl and hiss, and hide from the other cats. She had been really close to Camille, Cece, and Finn, but after a long drive from Toronto, Lily needed her space. It would take about two or three days for her to remember that she loved the other cats, and then things would go back to normal.
Because Kid 2 is living between apartments, bumming couches from friends and living out of suitcases, keeping Lily wasn't feasible. It was hard to part the two, but DW and I have readily offered to take care of Lily for the month of November.
Again, it took about three days for her to stop growling and hissing. She even growled at us, taking a swipe at me when I offered a hand to pet her.
But now, three weeks into our cat-sitting, Lily is doing marvelously. We're sure that she misses her mom terribly, and her ears prick up when she hears Kid 2 in a video chat.
We send her photos, daily.
Lily usually curls up on cushions with the other cats but she's also taken a shining to me. She often hops on my lap, while I'm working at my desk, especially when she hears me talking during a staff meeting. I'll give her a pet and set her on the floor, but she'll hop right back onto my lap.
And so it continues until I carry her to where one of the other cats are curled up, and she'll join them.
I usually have a nap in the middle of the afternoon, as I find that working alone, in a corner of our living room, after lunch, makes me sleepy. I'll set a 30-minute timer and stretch out on the sofa nearest my desk, and close my eyes.
No sooner am I prone when Lily hops on top of me, purring and drooling. I don't argue because she's soft, light, and keeps me warm.
In the evenings, when I watch TV, Lily hops into my lap and naps, her body stretched along my legs.
She may miss Kid 2 but she has found a new favourite in the meantime. It'll be sad to see her return to Toronto.
Happy Friday!
No comments:
Post a Comment