CardioGirl requested more photos of Grace the other day, worrying that perhaps she wasn't getting our full attention. Hobbes is hogging the spotlight apparently or I'm (gasp!) favoring somebody here on the blog. I feel the need to explain because god-forbid I'd be accused of liking one kitty more than the other. Criminy, it's worse than the kids.Grace came to us 12 years ago and was an only cat for most of those years. And while she enjoyed being the only cat, she secretly wished we could have dumped those two kids as well to make her the only "child" in the household. Heaven on earth for Grace would have been living with just Joe and I, and even Joe was iffy.
Grace is not big on attention. She doesn't want anyone to pet her or fuss all over her. She doesn't really want anyone to say "hello" to her or come over and plant a giant smoochy on her head while she sleeps. Cuddling is on her terms and typically reserved for me between the hours of 5:40 - 5:45 in the morning when I am in the bathroom.
Rarely is the occasion when she'll come over to sit with me. She doesn't want to touch me when she sleeps on my bed and she hates to be held. She'll take a nap with me, but it is clear on the other side of the bed and she'll get up and leave should I reach over and give her a pet or two. She is lovingly referred to as the "Non-Pet".
Photographing Grace is difficult as the minute I approach her with the camera, her ears flatten and she half-closes her eyes in disgust. So, while I try to get some sweet photos of her in the flowers or laying sweetly on her chair, she just emanates a miffed attitude and I end up with photos of one grumpy cat. Needless to say, I just end up taking photos of Hobbes who is typically standing right there doing something cute. He's just an easier target most days.
So, while her exterior self is screaming "Go away, you fools" her inner self is quite the opposite--she is a goofball. She is silly--sneak attacking me from under the couch when I walk by in the dark. She'll play "I'm gonna get you" endlessly--hiding behind tables and corners, jumping out to grab my shins and mewing loudly should I grab hers.
She loves nothing better than jumping on the bed and rolling around when I make it in the mornings and sits on my lap while I blog hop. She's on this kick of laying on the kitchen table and counters now that Hobbes got the mulligan for that awhile ago, and she will chase the feather toy around like a kitten for hours.
So, rest assured, CardioGirl and pallies, that Grace is indeed loved every bit and more than Hobbes. She gets more than her fair share of Mom Time and is actually more of "my girl" than Hobbes--she just would rather be more private about it. And while Hobbes grabs the limelight, Grace would rather be in the background, waiting for me in the bathroom where she knows we'll be alone.
31 comments:
Well, Non-pet or what-not, Grace is a beautiful creature.
Grace is one pretty gal and with looks like that who need to flaunt them. She knows she's the cat's meow.
I love people who can accept what can be given for the sheer joy of, thats all there is and YAY!
Too many times I've seen people assigning humor characteristics to pets. Insisting they 'know' what they are doing in a contemplative human sneaky sense. And when they are not accepting of contact - its a bad thing. Sometimes it just is.
Sigh. I had a recent conversation about this. Im glad you wrote this, it makes feel better
That was HUMAN, not humor - sheesh
I believe that your Grace and my Digit are twins separated at birth. Same colour and same disposition. Although Digit has been to crawl up into a lap when you least expect it. AND I tend to take far less pictures of her. I must remedy this. Gray cats have a very special place in my heart. They're beautiful.
Vanilla--She is what she is--simply. At least we understand that and respect it.
Ann--She is, quite simply, a cat. And it is always on their terms. I think that is why you are either a dog person or a cat person--cats are very different from dogs.
Tracy--Anthropomorphism--I just talked to my mom about that too. It is the assigning of human characteristics to non-human things. Author Jon Katz writes about this a lot on his blog and it can be a slippery slope. I try to remember that when I write about the kitties or the frogs, but we as humans tend to do that to things. They are NOT humans, but sometimes I see human characteristics in what they do or don't do--it's inevitable.
I've watched our cats personalities and preferences change with time. The girl cats more so than the boy cats.
Yes she is *gasp* a feline entity that Grace of yours. Attacks in the dark happen around here too. Isn't it fun?
Grace is the kind of cat you have to earn. She is an advance cat not for amateurs. She's beautiful.
Grace is a very beautiful Mama's girl! She sounds like such a sweetie! It's so wonderful she's able to just be herself and fits in so nicely with your family.
She is pretty. Stinky is like that. Very hard for me to photograph...
Grace is a beautiful cat. She reminds me of my cat, Dini. She doesn't like to be pet or held either. She makes the most wicked faces when I pull out the camera. It's nice that it isn't just my cat who does this, it's not just me. My cat is silly too, just when I least expect it she will wait patiently and quietly for the dog to walk by the dining room table she is sitting on, when he walks by she jumps onto his back scaring the bejebus out of him. It's quite hysterical.
Good thing she's gray... she can hide better.
Grace sure is pretty :)
In addition to anthropomorphism, there is also a nasty habit called ailuromorphism, which is the assigning of feline characteristics to humans. I have to remind cats all the time that humans just don't think like them.
Too bad Grace is a kitty because her and my Sam would get along great! Sam races for the bathroom in the morning just so he can have me all to himself.
She is beautiful!
Grace, you are beautiful and mysterious!
I don't think I met Grace before. She's very beautiful and if she wants to stay in the background, I respect that.
What a pretty kitty!
Grace--Yeah, me too. I've noticed that as the age, they want less contact and more alone time. I guess I can't blame them!
Chuck--If it isn't one it is the other. They can tag team me!
Highway--Hahaha! Yep, I think you have nailed it. :) Anyone else would have sent her back to the shelter.
Beaded Tail--I understand her so it works. When the kids were little, it was hard to just have her as she wasn't any fun and wouldn't let the kids pet her. We had to move on to hamsters then.
Pricilla--Isn't that odd how they don't want anything to do with us most days?? Well, until I get out the treats. ;)
Jen--Hahaha! I love it--Cat fun!! Good for her. At least she keeps the dog on his toes.
Sharky--I love a gray cat--their fur doesn't show up on anything!
Stephanie--Thanks, pally. She is a pretty cat AND skinny. Not at all like Hobbes who is VERY heavy!
Sparkle--I think there is a whole musical based on that theory!
Chocolate--The animals like alone time with mom--especially when you have little kids. I used to put the kids down for a nap and my kitty at the time, Molly, would WAIT for that hour! It was her favorite time of day to sit on me.
Daisy--She reminds me of you when Harley jumps on you. Grace has no tolerance for that kind of stuff either. You and Grace make some great grumpy faces!
Karen--Really? You never saw Grace??? Hmmmmm. I respect that she doesn't like to be in the limelight, so I just don't put her there. It's funny though, she loves to sit on me while I blog hop.
Harriet--Thanks, pally! She is unique because she has no white on her anywhere.
Aww, I love reading Gracie's story, thanks!
I forgot about little Gracey... She is beautiful!
Grace is a sweetie anyway. She's a discriminating, independent cat. I like her.
Grace is ..well.. full of grace. It's funny that no two cats are alike. They all seem to have their own personalities.
Have a nice day, Lin!
Maybe its by nature female loves boy.. or male cat more than their own gender :)
Awww yeah!
I am glad to see that Grace is getting her own sort of attention although I do wish she could loosen up in front of the camera.
Hey! There's a reason right there to get a telephoto lens.
p.s. Thanks for the special attention. I fashion myself as more of a Grace than a Hobbes. Although I do love him, as you know.
Grace is so pretty! Such a beautiful kitty. Sounds like she doesn't mind Hobbes getting a little bit more blogging time than her. ;)
xo Catherine
Well she's cute too. I think she's totally happy to give all of the bloggy attention to Hobbes though.
Jen--Well, that is one being that gets the mulligan from the blog. ;) I think the rest of the family would like the same.
Petula--Yep, she's still here, but in the background. Lucky her. :)
Marilynne--I like her too because she is very complicated for a cat.
Veronica--It's funny, but I have found every animal to have their own personality--even the fish. I think if you spend enough time with them, you can see the differences. Grace definitely has her own personality.
Vanilla7--Hmmmmm, I wonder. Or is it just their personalities connecting with mine. I don't know.
CG--While Grace isn't happy being photographed, she was more than willing to leave you a message on that phone thingy on your blog! She is a silly girl when she wants to be. I think I'm more of a Grace type gal too.
Catherine--I think she has no idea about the blog, but she is certainly glad I'm not sticking the camera in her face all the time. She just makes the crabbiest of faces when I come near her!
Casey--That is why we got another kitty after so many years--so that the kids could cuddle a kitty! She always hated the kids touching her even though they were always kind. She's just a grump!
It's true I haven't seen much of Grace on your blog either, but she is just as adorable as Hobbes :)
I love it that pets have their own unique personality!
Duni--She's on the sidebar, but rarely is there a Grace story here. She gets a mention, but she's more of a "background" player around here.
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