By and large, we’ve given up on promoting feline friendships. If we can manage peaceful coexistence, we figure that’s good enough.
Although, to be honest, “peaceful” is a word capable of displaying endless gradations. Rufus is much more relaxed around Kokoro than she is around him. But they usually average out to “wary acceptance”. That’s close enough.
Sachiko alternates between “I finks I opposta hiss nao” and “Oh, it you again. Okays.” Either way, Rufus usually lands on “cautious ignoring.” But then, that’s pretty good, considering he’s used to black and white cats–Tuxie and Watanuki–who are in his weight class and far more aggressive than he is.
When Yuki and Rhubarb aren’t feuding, they’re the best of buddies. And they’ve both developed a policy of mutual neutrality toward Rufus. “You don’t hit me, I won’t hit you.” And Rufus is fine with that.
We always figure we’ve done well enough when everyone is saying “I’m going to give you SUCH an ignore now.” But it is nice that Mr. Ferguson and Nickel, who used to chase him mercilessly around the house, are now married and sleep curled up in a condition of sickening adorability. Anything can happen.
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I’d love to get to universal exchanges of ignores around here. Especially at three AM when my legs routinely play host to a four-cat hiss-and-slap fest.
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Here the growling tends to start when they’re clustered near my head. I have no choice but to heave the more active cat (it’s always NIckel) off the bed. Too close for comfort.
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We don’t usually get head-adjacent growling. We just get our heads walked on.
I’d rather have the growling, frankly.
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Well, we also get head MUNCHING, eyesocket-kneading (well, attempted) and the wet cool nosetip thrust into our ear canals.
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Don’t forget the hair and beard grooming, the gut and bladder squishing, and the butt in the face.
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