I have a GUMBIE cat in mind, her name is Shiloh any dots. Her coat is of the Tabby kind, with tiger stripes and leopard spots. All day she sits upon the stair or on the steps or on the mat: She sits and sits and sits and sits- and that's what makes a Gumbie cat! (T.S. Eliot- Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats). Well when ol' Eliot wrote that bit of verse, he surely was thinking of my newly adopted, cat, SHILOH. Shiloh is about three years old and she is one hefty 15 pound momma of a feline four legged fur person. Note; picture to the left. ( no one reads this blog, I have to chuckle as I am writing as if anyone did, except my dear friend Sharon) Shiloh came through a friend who knew some folks who needed to find a home for her. She had two homes and for one reason or another they didn't work out. So from one area of so Cal to another here came Shiloh (Formerly known as Isabelle). Truth be told, poor old Gumbie girl didn't answer to that name nor does she answer to Shiloh. But Shiloh is her name. Its taken from the Hebrew name of the place called Shiloh in the Bible. I wanted a good Jewish name for her being the respectable Jewess that I am.
Enough silliness. Shiloh is a GIRL cat and I never thought there would be a huge difference between a girl cat and a boy cat, other than their genitals, but yes, there is a definite difference. I am used to male cats. I am also used to male humans over girl humans too, but therein lies another entry on this silly blog. I learned that female cats seem to gravitate toward male humans and visa versa. While I had Chessie my old male tabby, he gravitated toward me more than to my husband. Shiloh, appears to welcome the company of my husband more than she does me. OUCH, but I am so glad that she does like him because he hesitantly agreed to having another feline in the house. Putting Chessie down was so hard and sad for both of us. But since the time was right, we got this huge Gumbie cat.
What is fascinating about Shiloh, in particular (ALL cats are fascinating) is that Shiloh is probably the most laziest cat I have ever known. Talk about sits and sits and sits and sits! While she is drinking her water, ( from a nice china bowl) she lays down and puts her face in the bowl and proceeds to drink the water. I guess what would prove her true laziness is, if I were to count her licks per minute. ( did that once with a beautiful black cat named Beau I once had. God what a saint he was! Came to about 100 plus licks per minute!) He was quite the fast licker! (I did that over thirty years ago when I had less marbles than I do now) But for Shiloh to get a good drink of water she lays aside her bowl and drinks and drinks and drinks and drinks.........
Second piece of evidence of her profound laziness is the style in which she plays. Whether we are playing on the floor or on my bed, Shiloh will be in a supine position when and if the toy (pipe cleaner, soft fuzzy ball, etc) is not within her reach. She will play enthusiastically IF and only if the toy is in her reach. Now I ask you, is that a Gumbie cat or what? I gotta love her though and oh, I do. She is quite a lady.
The best time is when we are all in bed, my husband comfortably on his side, me on mine and Shiloh at the foot of the bed grooming herself before she partakes into the land of Nod. How sweet and peaceful it is to watch her groom herself. When cats groom themselves, it is usually because they are feeling safe and comfortable to do so. I take her grooming as a compliment.
Cats have subtle ways of communication and I respect that. It is a lesson of life. People tend to bulldoze their way through life missing the messages of nature, God, and life it self. When a cat is upset, he or she will let you know with their tail, I am getting agitated; back off. If the human remains unaware, cats will put their ears back as if to say. HEY I said you are annoying, back off. Many humans still don't get the message and then comes the exposed claws through a swat or a deep growl. Subtle communication intensifies if the human remains unconscious.
I believe life works like that, through subtleties. One of the lessons of life is to learn and perceive the subtleties. It has taken me a life time to begin to learn this lesson. As I get older I get a little less obtuse and more awake. I have spend a life time getting whacked up side my head with the huge paw of life. Finally I am learning to perceive the subtle lessons. I can tell you it makes life a lot easier to pay attention and to wake up.
Being awake in life is something of which most people are not aware. I can say that because that has been my truth. At my old age, I am slowly waking up! Thank God! Thank the Universe! Thank CATS! (and Dogs) So I say WELCOME OLD GUMBIE GIRL, I have a lot to learn from you and I will try to be a good servant to you!
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