The road in front of our house is the Front Line. It is the demarcation point between our ginger cat's territory and that of the two larger, aggressive (and older and wiser) cats who live directly opposite.
Regardless of the fact that they clearly consider him to be a Johnny-come-lately upstart, and have given him a torn ear and several wounds that needed visits to the vet (all inflicted on his rear end as he was obviously running for it) he still keeps going over and giving them the feline equivalent of a rude gesture.
He also believes that if we are out there - gardening, cleaning cars, talking to the milkman... etc. - then he is transformed into Pussycat Superhero and protected by an invisible safety shield (i.e.us) and consequently he gets reckless.
A while ago when my son and I were out talking to the neighbours, across the road strolled our debonair moggie and proceeded to rub himself on the bumper of the car parked opposite, marking it. He was watched with disbelief by the larger and more malevolent of the two enemy cats. who was sunning himself on his front step. Our hero couldn't even see that far. The other cat thought it was his birthday.
He flowed down that step and up to the low garden wall like treacle. We saw his eyes and ears appear over the wall. Our cat didn't. He was too busy getting his ears around the front tyres. A black hissing tornado erupted over him, and it was full steam ahead. His behind disappeared round the corner like an express train, with the other cat at full stretch in hot pursuit.
Ten minutes later he appeared at the kitchen window, looking very fraught. Fortunately he was unmarked this time - physically anyway - but his nerves must have been jangling like the clappers.
We think the reason he feels so confident when we are visibly close at hand is that his faith in us is implicit. He never doubts that when push comes to shove we will be there for him. Or better still - in front of him.
And I probably will be.
[Previously published in 'Cat World' magazine]
(c)Thelma Mitchell 2001
