Pretty Little Miss Kat Mandu & Charlie

Charlie, always hovering at the basement door, too shy to explore other territory.
Charlie, always hovering at the basement door, too shy to explore other territory.

And so the legacy between Charlie and I began. The more successful my mission, the more I peddled influence over Charlie, my devoted team of one.  In no time she would only come up the basement stairs to eat and drink or as an alert to have me come back in the house at night.  I had poor Charlie convinced the puppy was out to get her, the other cats were conspiring to bring her to ruin and the Two Footed trio would be her down fall. Charlie was an amazing soldier – she followed and executed orders, without any questions.

Meanwhile, having a bird in the bush, I once again awakened like a Phoenix, rising from the ashes.  It started at 8:00pm everyday when I would complain to Momma to feed me.  Then at 9:00pm I would insist both the kitchen and the front door be opened. Also, I would not venture outside until all the Two and Four Footed stood back and I had a clear, unfettered path out in to the night. Only then, would I scoot out to the front garden to watch the fairies dance.

Look at these tiny little Garden Fairies, relaxing before the Circle of the Fairy Dance has them twirling on their toes, to music only they can hear.
Look at these tiny little Garden Fairies, relaxing before the Circle of the Fairy Dance has them twirling on their toes, to music only they can hear.

It was most important to not come in contact with any pets or people. I especially had to keep an eye on Jakita, the family dog who might give me, like, who knows, dog-a-tude. In any case,  she was far too pure bred for me to appreciate her.   By 10:00pm, I came back, I  hopped up on the bench, waiting for Momma or Wonder Boy to open the door so I could go to sleep with Charlie in the basement. If I didn’t get in, Charlie would actually pad over to Momma’s bedroom door and meow to remind her ‘Mandu needs in’ – shy little Charlie would do that for me.

I loved Charlie like my own flesh and blood. Sometimes, when there was a full moon, on a summer night , once Charlie had gone to asleep, I would sneak outside again,  when Wonder Boy was around to help me in my Nocturnal Adventures.

Now that I have been forced to review the error of my ways, I realize how my sociopathic, ritualized behavior affected Charlie. She became obsessed with the food dishes, hovering menacingly at the top of the stairs, hissing at the other cats if they came near. She ate too much, out of boredom, and became  overweight, making it a problem for her legs to support her portly body.  I noticed in the last year, that she laboriously limped as she dragged herself from the basement, up the stairs, to the food dishes.  Then there was the crawl space I insisted she explore. Her calico fur became matted– the curse of the double coated, thick bristly outer hair and soft undercoat but she could no longer groom her self. She began to resemble a raccoon, with distinct camel humps of fur, instead of like a domesticated cat.

I, Charlie, admit I do look a tad racoonish but look at the exquisite calico markings. Please be polite and ignore my camel humps of fur - just beware, that is what comes from one to many nights in the Crawl Space with Kat Mandu as my Mentor.
I, Charlie, admit I do look like  raccoon but NOTE the exquisite calico markings. Please be polite and ignore my camel humps of fur – just beware, that is what comes from one to many nights in the Crawl Space with Kat Mandu as my Mentor.

Truth be known, no matter my poor attitude, I had a great home even if I had to reside with other cats.  The month before I passed, Calico Diva Gen was sick but Momma & Wonder Boy realized (because she let them know her).  No one could tell I was even sick because I successfully kept them at bay.  But I could sense it,  so I went back to hopping on Momma’s bed two or three times a day, Diva Gen at the top, curled in a calico  ball, me at the bottom, curled in a smaller calico ball, like two skeins of blended colors of wool. By this point I was the weight of a feather, according to Momma.  Special food  was brought to the bed for Gen to restore her health. I would wait till the Diva had her fill, then polish off the rest, trying to communicate to Momma, ‘I’m sick too’ but duh, she did not get it. Still Momma  could make me feel so good, kind of reminding me of my Baby Mama so many ages ago, as she brushed and combed me, till I slept in heavenly peace.

So I get it, I made Charlie paranoid, patrolling the top of the stairs, hissing at all takers so she could have all the food, all the water (I was always allowed complete  privileges). All the cats knew the basement and crawl space was just for her and I.  It is beyond me why she did not exercise her right to a free will (no, no, no, not free Willie).

Don’t be so quick to condemn me for my self-serving ways because sitting on my little pink fluffy cloud up in Pet Heaven, I am watching over Charlie Cat – and wouldn’t you know. She has reinvented herself. She is not as preoccupied with food and is upstairs all the time, no more hissing or blocking the staircase so the other cats now can eat or drink and wander around the basement, at their leisure. Oh, and the crawl space has been closed off,  so it is off limit to all takers. Anyway, Momma never liked me or Charlie enforcing law and order, Kat Mandu style  and well, we all live to please our Momma.

Mandu pondering the self serving Changes in Charlie's life.
Cat Mandu pondering the self-serving changes in Charlie’s life.

Oh, one more thing, as I look down from paradise the other day, I am almost sure I saw Charlie  sniffing Jakita and rubbing noses with both Gen and  Andy. If you can’t beat them, join them.

I tell you, it’s a strange, strange world, we live in, Master Jack.

2 thoughts on “Pretty Little Miss Kat Mandu & Charlie”

  1. I am really thankful to find this website on bing, just what I was searching for : D as well saved to bookmarks.

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