Saturday, 11 April 2009

Old possum's book of practical cats

Sylvie, aged 8, sunning herself in the rear courtyard


... from ... The Ad-dressing of Cats
Before a Cat will condescend
To treat you as a trusted friend,
Some little token of esteem
Is needed, like a dish of cream;
And you might now and then supply
Some caviare, or Strassburg Pie,
Some potted grouse, or salmon paste -
She's sure to have her personal taste.
(I know a Cat, who makes a habit
Of eating nothing else but rabbit,
And when she's finished, licks her paws
So's not to waste the onion sauce.)
A Cat's entitled to expect
These evidences of respect.
And so in time you reach your aim,
And finally call her by her name.
... Thomas Sterns Eliot (1939)

8 comments:

  1. Cats are God's own creatures. I have a book called "The cat's whiskers" which is a collection of stories and poems on cats, edited by Peter Wells. It is fantastic.

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  2. Cats are gods. But they clean themselves. Touch only at your own risk.

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  3. This cat looks as if it's giving the world a raspberry. And it looks as if it has every right and reason to do so. Thanks for the ts eliot and the shot of a fellow feline. We do like to see our own kind included in this global survey from time to time.

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  4. The only cat in our family is a priss pot. She rules, as I guess they all do. YOurs today looks like a GIANT! HA
    Fun photo,
    V

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  5. Cats are most definitely gods, or more usually godesses. The Egyptians knew this. I read Virginias post as "piss pot" - oops.

    Beautiful shot - I miss my cat.

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  6. My dogs have respect for cats, and view from a distance.

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  7. Wonderful portrait of Sylvie. Love that we are so close and sharing her cleaning experience. A beauty.

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  8. I love cats. Sylvie looks content.

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