My girl is still working on the Writing Outtakes series. I don’t know how she manages to keep on going, but I suppose she hasn’t run out of ideas. And I know how inspiring we cats can be to someone like her.
Day 2 of the creativity residency. Marmalade has trouble with puppy Snow and tries to tell his boy Matteo who is distracted by Ali.
*Please note: The Viscount is played by a different doll even though his voice and clothes are the same.
If you like this video, feel free to subscribe to my girl’s YouTube channel to get updates for upcoming episodes. For more information check out: https://alinoelvyain.wordpress.com
Well, my dear subjects, it has been a while since you heard directly from me, your royal feline emperor. I have missed writing letters to you and sharing my wonderous life one-on-one.
Summer was relatively smooth sailing in my kingdom this year, aside from the usual hiccups with Dog. I found that Dog’s belongings are actually of much use to me, something I can benefit from at his expense: his beds, his pillows, sometimes even his toys. Although the beginning of my relationship with Dog was tenuous, he has turned out to be an excellently naive and unquestioning subject. As this summer closed, I took great pride in the knowledge that I, as emperor, had fully survived the coup attempted by Dog last year. My rule and my power seemed to be going ever upwards, with humans and Dog alike deferring to me.
But then another creature came, another invader of sorts. Something unlike anything I had ever encountered before–something that vaguely reminded me of a rat, but not enough to be certain. Small, black and white, with kicking, thumping feet and weird little teeth constantly gnashing. A pet rabbit, the humans said. Abandoned at the park and needing medicine and food.
Dog was ushered out of the room, but I in all my regal demure-ness, was allowed to remain to supervise and observe. Dog whined and moaned outside the closed door, and I smiled smugly to myself. The humans did a similar routine as they did with Dog so many months ago when he was small: blankets, towels, food and water, and many checks between the two of them. Then they began making many phone calls. I was relieved to know this stranger was not going to stay forever the way Dog did.
So far, Rabbit has kept to himself, content to stay in the room the humans cordoned off for him. He does not seem to be interested in taking power, gaining territory, or staging a coup. In fact, he does not seem to be interested in much at all except disgusting green food. When he had first arrived, I had hoped that perhaps his rations would be interesting, something to supplement my dog food tithes with. Sadly, the humans keep giving him the most unpalatable things, vegetables and the like. Dog’s food is better.
Dog is more tormented by this visitor than I am. Once I saw what little of a threat Rabbit was, I was completely at ease, and have since forgotten about his existence most of the time. Dog, on the other hand, has been desperate to get into the room. He says he just wants to say hi, but for some reason — perhaps the wildness in his eyes, or his drool — this seems rather implausible. Whatever his true intentions are, it’s no concern of mine. Rabbit doesn’t bother me and that is all that matters. The humans have assured me that Rabbit will get a family of his own soon. In the meantime, he will stay with us in his own private hotel — out of sight, out of mind for me, and well out of reach of Dog.
Until my next missive,
Emperor Julius
photo by Clarabelle Fields
Note from Julius’ human: Before finding this abandoned rabbit, I didn’t know how common it was for people to dump rabbits in parks. Unfortunately, this is extremely common,especially in the months after Easter. Many people buy rabbits on a whim around that time of year without realizing the commitment required to properly care for this kind of animal. There are so many abandoned rabbits in the US that they are often euthanized immediately if they are surrendered to a shelter because there is simply not enough space to house them all. Because of this, we are holding onto this little guy until we can find him a new home. Please take careful consideration before adopting a rabbit (and any pet, for that matter). The ones abandoned outside often die very unpleasant deaths.
People that hate cats will come back as mice in their next life. —Faith Resnick
The universe has a way of dealing out its form of justice. It figures if you hate cats, you deserve to be reincarnated as their prey.
There are many intelligent species in the universe. They are all owned by cats. —Anonymous
Cats are attracted to intelligent beings. That’s one reason they choose the humans they do. They want to be around other beings who can be just as intelligent as they are. Cats want to be understood and allowed to be themselves. They give us the same opportunity to be ourselves too.
To a cat, love is the best thing in the world. Cats tend to love unconditionally and forever. I learned how to love unconditionally from Sir Socks. I knew he loved me dearly even when I was driving him crazy. We love each other unconditionally and will never stop. We just have a personally clash as he is a curmudgeon and I’m quite silly. Yet, we are able to get along much of the time.
Sometimes even I don’t understand feline logic. I suppose some cats are afraid they will lose their home if they break the rules their humans give them. I know it can happen, but it’s good when your humans just love you unconditionally and will put up with all of your quirks.
Nuri is so bonded to my girl Ali that sometimes when Ali is out of the house for too long, Nuri will wait by the door until Ali gets home. Nuri did bolt outside once when she didn’t see Ali much to Ali’s mom’s anxiety. Ali came shortly afterwards and cuddled with Nuri.
Ali usually works at home and so Nuri got used to it. So, it doesn’t take long for Nuri to miss Ali too much. Since Nuri bolted once, she learned the humans didn’t like it too well. So, now she pretends she’s not waiting by the door. Although Ali tends to catch her and chuckles.
I know Nuri has it good with Ali. I doubt Nuri really needs to worry. Ali will keep looking after Nuri for the rest of her life.
We all need love. Not just humans. Cats need it too. It’s better when it’s unconditional. Even when we drive each other crazy and get on each other’s nerves. Unconditional love is the best thing around. My girl tells me she learned it from me and is glad she did. Perhaps I demanded it. I know I gave it as much as I could.
I never expected a whirlwind to be full of love. Silliness never surprised me. It tended to annoy me, but I know she loved me the whole time. Even when I did things she didn’t like. I know she hated it when I peed on the floor instead of in the litter box. But she never hated me for it. She just scolded and never hard.
I hope all cats can experience such love. We all need to know we have homes full of love without the fear of being kicked out. We all need a place to be safe and accepted just as we are.
Nothing gets past his Highness. Well, almost nothing. (There was one time where he slept through his human making a tuna salad…a shameful day that we will not speak of again…)
Among his many imperial duties is that of chief inspector, that is, he must thoroughly inspect everything that passes across his royal countertops. Food, glass, ceramic, plastic — whatever comes into or out of the kitchen must pass the emperor’s inspection. Bottles must be sniffed, foreign objects tapped, and water sampled. A taste test here or there never hurt anyone either. Sometimes Dog tries to take on this role, but chief inspection has always been, and always will be, the rightful role of the emperor.
Being countertop inspector is a demanding job. Countless hours spent walking up and down the lengths of the kitchen, checking the sink and the stove, performing quality checks on leftovers and fallen crumbs, doing inventory counts inside cabinets and open drawers, sitting for hours on top of the fridge watching traffic as it passes by underneath.
Sometimes things are not up to par — when something doesn’t pass inspection, the problem must be solved quickly and effectively. One swoop of the regal paw and the problem is ended on the tile three feet below. The humans still express their skepticism, but one day they will learn that the emperor’s judgment is always final and just.
Traitorous mugs and cups must meet their rightful condemnation on the floor. Useless plastic bottles must be cleared away. And unpalatable fruits and vegetables must yield to his emperor’s carnivorous preferences, flung with skillful claws into the kitchen sink. Always at the ready, the emperor is proud of his countertops, never letting so much as an ant miss his discerning eye.
One day, the humans will realize how fortunate they are to have a tireless countertop inspector like Julius, keeping them safe from dangerous ceramics and keeping the counters clean.
The cat seldom interferes with other people’s rights. His intelligence keeps him from doing many of the fool things that complicate life. —Carl Van Vechten
Cats know it’s folly to infringe on others’ rights. Cats want their rights respected and know they have to respect the rights of others. They also don’t understand many of the prejudices that humans tend to harbor in their hearts. Cats are intelligent enough to know how wrong and stupid prejudice is.
Cats are smarter than dogs. You can’t get eight cats to pull a sled through snow. —Jeff Valdez
Cats don’t tend to like snow or water in any form. It’s not good for them as many learn when they are kittens. Perhaps that’s one reason why cats won’t pull any sleds through snow. Another reason is that they don’t feel the need to please anyone.
For a cat, a home is their territory. It is a place that is safe for them to hide from the dangers of the world. It’s also where they can find those they love. It’s a shelter from the bad weather. It’s a simple place which sometimes changes physical location, but the feelings about home itself never change.
Sir Socks Le Chat 