So I had to take over the blog to tell you a little story about my girl. Long time readers of the blog, and readers of our book, may know that Fin's secret love affair with her toy mouse is what started it all for us on the writing front. A short story for writing class called "Mousey and Me a Tale of Forbidden Love" is what spawned everything that has come after.
When she was still a young cat I bought her a toy mouse, it was bigger than the mini mice she lost under all the furniture so I had big hopes. I took it out of the package, tossed it at Fin and she couldn't have cared less.
The mouse sat in exactly the same spot for weeks, when suddenly it started turning up all over the house. We NEVER saw Fin play with it, so both Hubby and I assumed the other was moving it (why we thought the other one would be moving a cat toy around the house is another question).
One morning I heard this awful cat noise, it sounded like she was being strangled. I raced to find her and she was fine, just chilling in the general vicinity of the mouse. This was repeated very often till we realized she was carrying the mouse and singing, and because Mousey is so plump it causes a strangled meow.
Only once in all these years have I actually seen her with Mousey.
I heard the strangled love song coming down the hall to the bedroom. I sat perfectly still, and rounding the corner was my girl with Mousey in her mouth singing out loud. As soon as she saw me she dropped Mousey like it was some shameful secret. The idea of a forbidden love affair bloomed in my head.
Over the years we have grown accustomed to the sounds of "Mousey Movement", but we never see the actual transportation. Until the other morning.
I was running late and was just wrapping up an email in the den, when around the corner comes my girl, Mousey carried proudly in her mouth, tail held high, singing out her song of love with a smile on her face. She got all the way into the den when she spotted me and dropped her beloved.
It's funny that such a simple thing can make a cat mom's heart sing. When there is Mousey time, I know she is feeling her best and I know she is happy and joyful, and that makes me feel the same.
What makes your cat parent heart sing?
Boodie does that all the time! But she does it with different toys, not just one special one. I don't know what that says about her character - probably nothing good.
ReplyDeleteI love sitting out on the Catio with the Horde swarming around me, headbutting and purring like mad. It's especially sweet when CC comes over for luvvins; he used to be SO afraid and he conquered his fear to blossom into a complete love bug.
ReplyDeleteTrish
My mom heart sing when I went to jump to her hip, she know she have to get up and come to sit next to me while I'm eating. I don't like to eat alone. And when she pet my head, I purrs loud while I'm eating. And she sing a song for me as well : )
ReplyDeleteMe sings to my Daddy. He resuced me and me loves him so much. Me purrs and butts him and sings to him and chirps and, sometimes he lets me clean his ears.
ReplyDeleteKisses
Nellie
Mom's heart would always sing when she saw toys in our water dish. Sniffie did that all the time. Mom still looks.
ReplyDeleteThe Florida Furkids and Angel Sniffie
I'm kinda like that with my dad's socks...or mom's fleece socks, but the big secret love affair was between mom's first cat and soul mate Morgan ::bows head in honor::
ReplyDeleteMorgan had crocheted yarn balls filled with nip. She yowled, hollered cried...but only while no one was looking. Mom finally caught her on tape when she set up a video cam on a tripod and set the bowl of toys in front of it. When mom played the tape back Morgan was horrified! The secret was revealed.
Beautiful story. My sisfur, Princess, does something similar. I wouldn't exactly call it singing. MOL. Have a pawsome week.
ReplyDeleteMy Mom loves when I act like a cat burglar and manage to steal money or cards from a pocketbook that is completely closed. She tells me that she is proud of my skills of opening a closed purse.
ReplyDeleteShe thinks that this means that I am active and curious. I think she also likes the idea of me as a cat burglar.
Mama says she loves us best when we're all asleep....and not turning the house upside down and topsy turvy and upheavel and all that...coz there's six of us under one roof. purrr...meow!
ReplyDeleteLove the story!
ReplyDeleteSimba doesn't sing to any toys, and doesn't lie on laps, but sometimes he will climb onto me in a way that indicate he wants to be turned to lie like an infant in my arms. Then he purrs and purrs and drools in pure bliss. Makes my heart happy to feel that love, which is more than the usual purring and staying close.
Simba's Mom
That is a really sweet story Fin!
ReplyDeleteOh how lovely. We are happy Fin is happy too. Purrs.
ReplyDeleteAwwww! Mousey Magic!
ReplyDeleteAustin makes my heart sing when he gives me his "benevolent" look. I know then that he is happy and content. All's well with his world ^..^
Love the story, however many times I read it. Yes, I re-read your book quite a few times.
ReplyDeleteI love it when Momo curls up beside me purring softly and gently wraps her paws around my hand when I pet her.
When Huffle sits on my lap, and purrs. It's such a rare thing and she doesn't like being picked up so it's a rare and wonderful event.
ReplyDeleteAnnie used to yeowl at night when she'd carry around her fluffy "ball" and bring it upstairs. That used to make my heart sing, as did play tag with her.
ReplyDeleteNicki makes my heart sing with his head butts and rubs and Derry's just a lover anyway, very cuddly. BTW, I think Nicki learned (from Annie) to yeowl while carrying around his "prey" at night, because he'll do with it his favourite toys too.
We just love the story of Fin and her Mousey! She's obviously got a very special bond.
ReplyDeleteOur Bella sings in private to socks, undergarments, shirts...laundry in general. She always looks guilty when she's caught too. Maybe she'd like a mousey for her own.
My cats love their nip hamster. They do pretty much the same thing as Fin, though they don't care if I see them or not. What makes MY heart sing? When they wrap their tails around me, happy that I'm with them.
ReplyDeleteLucy has a tiny toy lion that is never far away from - she runs all over the place with it! We didn't know Fin was a great singer we'll have to look out for her next recording!
ReplyDeleteLuv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
That is truly a beautiful story!! Lots of love, Debbie & Holly
ReplyDeleteToo funny!!! Mom says lots of little things make her heart sing - sometimes just watching us sleep and be cute.
ReplyDeleteZoe does that exact thing with her gray mousies (3 identical mousies - or they started out that way). She used to bring them all upstairs at night, and she'd sing loudly to let me know she had done so. She's down to just taking care of 1 of them, but if it's downstairs (which it usually is by the end of the day), she bring it upstairs after I'm in bed. It makes me happy, normally, unless I've just gotten to sleep.
ReplyDeleteWE know exactly what you are talking about Mom. Our BB does exactly the same thing only with a little fish. She carries it around the house just a singing. Mom loves it. It is so great when they do that. I feel that BB thinks she is carrying her kitten around. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI love hearing my babies purr. Well, Wally purrs constantly it seems, but still, hearing them purr lets me know all is right in the world.
ReplyDeleteWhen Zoey came here, she never purred. And for the longest time it was rare to hear her purr. Lately, though, she's been purring more...which makes me think she's finally accepted me.
Island Cats' mom
I soooo loved this!
ReplyDeleteMy heart sings when Cody wraps himself around my neck like a furry boa, or when he goes "nose-to-nose" with me...with Dakota, it's WHENEVER I return home, whether I have been gone 5 seconds or 5 hrs. I get licked, jumped on and just LOVED for at least 5 minutes!
Stories like this one make my heart sing!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that cat song - my JayJay does the same thing, only he sings when he carries any of his toys. It started simply enough - he would carry around his foamy soccer balls & every time he'd cry, I'd come running because it sounded like he was in trouble. It always ended the same way, he'd drop the toy & look up at me as if to say "what? you don't like my singing??"
ReplyDeleteSo now, whenever I hear him sing, I try to join in! ...I don't know if he appreciates the (non)harmony though.
Thanks for visiting us on Simon's special day!
~Mom Cory, Nico, Simon & JayJay :)
This is the cutest story ever!
ReplyDeleteI love it when Mocha "blesses" me when I sneeze. Every time I sneeze, she makes a little chitter-meow noise, like she is saying "Bless you"!
Bella is always so happy after she makes a poo that she comes tearing out of the bathroom and gets psycho with a toy (or 2 or 3) and sings - it makes me smile.
And I love when Coco cuddles up next to my face, places her paw on my cheek and gives my cheek a few kisses.
Just a few of my favorite things...
I used to have a humongous sectional in my den -- the hide-a-bed, two recliners and a regular couch all attached -- it was a fabulous piece of furniture. my litte black cat, Kat, discovered she could get inside through one of the flaps on the back of one of the recliners. and she would bring me a piece of stuffing on a regular basis, singing all the way from the back of the couch to my desk. what was that Johnny Cash song...."one piece at a time".....i sorta felt like she was bringing me my couch....one piece at a time.
ReplyDeleteMadison was a feral cat. I so wanted to hold her when she was young but she couldn't stand it.
ReplyDeleteNow if I pick her up for some reason she will occasionally rub her cheek against my ear. She cannot be tolerated being touched. But every time she does this it is her saying "you I trust" That makes my heart sing. Great story!
We love that story! We make that noise when we bring in presents for Mum and Dad. Generally when they are alive and wriggling...
ReplyDeleteI'm propped up in bed reading... My oldest girl kitty climbs aboard and "circles the wagons" about mid thigh. A few minutes later, next oldest kitty circles her wagon atop my left knee. Another minute or two passes...the youngest, a boy, galumphs over us all and sprawls full length between my knees stretching to my toes. They snuggle toward each other... They fall asleep. All's right in my world.
ReplyDeleteLizzie & 3 kitties
Oh Fin, how sweet to have such a special friend.
ReplyDeleteWhat a priceless story! I love that our beloveds have lives in our own homes that we have no idea of!
ReplyDeleteMs. Stella's Woman