I like Fred. He's very aloof, very independent, and just gets on with his tasks of mouse catching, and scaring the bejeezus out of the neighbouring moggies.
I think you can see by his picture what sort of cat he is; arrogant little sod. On warm days he's usually to be found atop this old wine barrel water butt, from where he tries to look 'in charge'; quietly surveying his realm.
He's not terribly friendly (other than at night, when he tries to sleep curled up under my chin), but as long as there's food and water readily available he's always happy-ish; otherwise I don't suppose he'd have anything to do with us.... But then, I guess that's how cats are, and why we love them so much.
Dogs are much easier to love but I do have a sneaking admiration for cats. Paul is currently at war with our neighbouring farmer's cat who is using our vegetable patch as a public convenience. He chased him down the road with a broom last week. The cat responded by climbing into the window of the barn opposite and glaring at us all day. Chilling!
ReplyDeleteDogs seem to have all the same traits as male humans, but magnified to caricature proportions. I love it when a cat loses it's dignity briefly, though. Arrogant b'stards!
ReplyDeleteLovely moggie Cro.
ReplyDeleteDo you have to speak French to him or is he bilingual?
He's English, Chris. We brought him over about 5 years ago.
ReplyDeleteI have a bit of a love-dislike relationship with our three cats. They're a mixture of 'yuk', 'awww' and 'grrrr'. As for the arrogance - I've always loved the quote by Mary Bly "Dogs will come when they're called. Cats take a message and get back to you later".
ReplyDeleteI much prefer cats to dogs (though I love both truly). Cats allow you to live with them, demand what they need and leave you alone for the better part of the time.
ReplyDeleteKim. In which case I think Freddie's been giving a few hints to Monty. Neither of them come when called!
ReplyDeleteI think the cat has exactly the life he planned and he looks like all that your describe.
ReplyDeleteI love Kim's comment above about dogs will come when called, cats take a message and get back to you later, so true..Ha
He is a superior feline and has the look of royalty :o) we had 1 cat but ended up with 3 after caring for an abandon little of 4 little ones, found homes for 2 and fell for 2 so I share my bed with 3 of the devils, very much loved. Looks like a beautiful spot to survey your domain I must say :o)
ReplyDeleteChris. 'The look of Royalty'? He actually comes from Windsor.... we've always wondered!
ReplyDeleteHave to admit I am a dog person...although we had a cat 'Pippin' in our family for 20 years, but really that was my daughters. We gave Pippin to her when she was 2 yrs old and it was a sad departure for Katie when Pippin died 20 years later. The two of them were truly bonded, when Katie was young I would often go into my daughter's bedroom late at night to check on her before going to bed, and find the cat sleeping on top of her head, which my daughter would think was perfectly normal.
ReplyDeleteI like the look of Freddie,and what a life .... living in France, lying in the sun....he's a lucky cat!
Our last DOG was named Fred too. He was a wonderful guy...not at all arogant and as sweet as they come. Maybe that's why they call people who behave in certain ways "catty"? Yours seems to have the perfect life, -has food, love and a cozy sleeping partner...what more could one want??
ReplyDeleteOne must give in to the fact that cats own us, rather than the other way around, and if we were only slightly smaller creatures, they would make a fine dinner of us!
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