For the first week not a sign did she give that she felt anything was amiss, not a sniff, no investigation of Poppy's usual haunts, nothing, from the moment Poppy departed Ditto's little life was for her completely unchanged. The last day or two however her behaviour seems to have changed somewhat, she has been seen wandering around the flat slightly aimlessly, she won't go out, or at least only for very brief periods and she has, by her standards, become somewhat clingy. She is most certainly not poorly, her appetite is more than fine, her colour is good and her temperature is normal but something about her has changed just a little. Hell, she has even made half hearted attempts at playing with her toys, an activity usually met with disdain, afterall tormenting 'old puss' was much more fun! It seems that perhaps Ditto is now wondering where poppy has got to and her little face looks really quite confused.
Something will have to be done and that something is likely to be a new kitten. We always knew we would get another, it's just a matter of timing, we can never replace Poppy but we can have the pleasure of another little feline personality. Whilst I am still not sure if it is too soon PG is convinced that to have a kitten to love and take care of will be good for us and hopefully, once the initial 'territorial spats' have passed it will be company for Ditto. Afterall he insists, we are a 'two cat family'.
Maybe.....some days I want one now, others I still feel it is too soon, we'll see but at least I have got through two whole days now with only one small snivel!
2 Comments:
I recently witnessed something similar. We have a bluejay in the backyard that I've tamed a bit over the years, and he'll now come eat raw peanuts or walnut bits out of my hand. We've grown quite fond of him.
About a week ago, I went into the backyard to check the sprinklers, and found a dead bluejay on the grass. "On no!" I thought. I hope it's not "our" bluejay. I went inside for a plastic bag and told my wife. She had the same reaction.
I bagged the poor bird and removed him from the backyard, then remembered I still hadn't checked the sprinklers.
Returning to the backyard, I found another bluejay right where I'd taken away the other one. This one was walking around sadly, seeming to look for the missind bird. He didn't seem frightened of me at all, and when I went inside the house, he came to the door and begged for food. Hooray! Our jay lives on, although his pal is gone.
Some people don't believe that animals have feelings, or any kind of consciousness, but I don't believe that at all. Ditto probably does realize that Poppy is gone, and not just on a long hunt.
Lisa: We will, though deciding when is only half of it, we have to find one then!
DKG: Thank you for taking the time to share that story, it's lovely and sad all at once, your poor bluejay, I'm glad he was not the one who was lost but it's so sad when they miss another. Many birds mate for life, I'm not sure about bluejays but I, like you believe that animals have a conciousness and I think you are right, Ditto is becoming aware that Poppy is not just out on a long hunt. xx
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