The Waking Hour

My alarm is set for six. It’s a little earlier than I’d like, and earlier than others might need for an 8 AM job three miles from my door, but I hate being rushed in the morning: it sets the wrong tone for the day. So I get up early and ease into the day.

Dmitri’s alarm is set for five. Cats are cats, especially young ones like mine. They’re curious, and they’re agile, and although they have each other to play with Dmitri is generally more energetic than Ivan – if there’s trouble to be gotten into, it’s mostly Dmitri doing it. Dmitri’s the one jumping at the shadows reflected back on the blinds from the morning sun. Dmitri’s the one trying to open cabinets and jump up on bookshelves. Ivan’s usually the one watching the mischief from the TV stand.

Of course, as I’m writing this Ivan is playing with the bedroom door. So there’s that.

Anyhow, so lately Dmitri keeps finding ways to make noises at 5 AM. Knocking stuff over, jumping around, the usual cat stuff. Which wakes me up at the worst possible time, because I really want that last hour of sleep. But once he gets me up, there’s not much chance of shutting my brain back down and getting a few more winks in. I start thinking of how much I’d like to get some more sleep, what I have to do that day, how annoying it is to have cats wake me up when I just want to get some sleep …

When Gizmo used to do that, I would sometimes shut the bedroom door so he wouldn’t disturb me with his antics. That backfired because he hated being separated from me. He didn’t have to be in the same room with me, but he hated the idea that he couldn’t be. These two aren’t quite like that, so the closed door works – except that part of morning ritual at the Winter Palace is Dmitri jumping up on the bed to say good morning once the alarm goes off.

And I kinda love that part. He purrs as soon as I touch him, and he’s very sweet and affectionate. Ivan usually waits his turn, which about half the time involves me coming to him.

I love my cats, as much as they drive me nuts sometimes. They are now chasing each other around the house like maniacs.

This, That and the Other

I think that if you see a baby in a carriage, and you know that it will one day grow up to become an assassin who will take you out, you have the right to a free strawberry-banana smoothie. Because who couldn’t use a smoothie at a time like that?

I like reading e-books – over the holidays I read Emma O’Donoghue’s “Room” (which was excellent) on my iPad – but there’s just something about a physical book that’s a pleasure to hold. I’d miss “real” books if they went away.

I wonder what Dmitri dreams about when he snorts and chatters his teeth a little?

I miss not coughing.

Presenting Dmitri

It’s not the best picture. He’s a beautiful cat, but my camera’s too slow to catch him before he moves out of a pose I think is good.

Anyway, here’s Dmitri preparing to unleash his vaporizing eye-beam. Between the glowing eye and the twisted ears, he looks pretty sinister. But he’s actually very sweet, and still a bit skittish. If I move toward him too quickly he trots away until he’s sure I won’t attack. I love his glossy black fur – I’ve always wanted a perfectly black cat. Now I have one to go with my gorgeous Russian Blue.

He likes to sleep under the couch or under the bed. Sometimes he tries to sleep on the dining table, which is forbidden. He’s enjoying playing with his big brother, who still likes to push him around a little. He’s decided cat treats are a Good Thing. They’re both pretty much indifferent to catnip, oddly.

I love them both.

A New Balance

Ivan and Dmitri seem to have found the ability to tolerate each other. Ivan’s still a little aggressive – he likes to bite Dmitri’s neck for no apparent reason. He seems to be settling in as the top cat, which I would not have expected.  Dmitri’s getting more confident and comfortable by the day, although he’s still a little skittish around me at times (even though I’m not the one biting his neck). But neither one is hissing, nobody’s yowling, and wherever they were when I got home this afternoon they were hiding there together.

Right now they’re chasing each other around the Winter Palace. This is the time of night when Ivan usually gets playful, and it looks like Dmitri has decided to join in.

This is good news. I don’t have to worry that I’m going to come home to a couple of shredded pets. I do have to start shutting the bathroom to keep from coming home to a mound of shredded toilet paper.

I’m a little more able to relax and enjoy them now. They’re both very sweet and affectionate, and so gorgeous: Ivan with his silver-grey coat, and Dmitri all glossy black. I’ve been trying to get some decent pictures of them, but my camera is slow and my cats are not.

Anyway, progress. It’s a good thing.

Sibling Rivalry

I have a beautiful black cat sitting on my lap as I type this. He’s Ivan’s brother Dmitri (formerly Hansel) – much more outgoing, friendly, and inquisitive than Ivan is. He’d be exploring the house right now if Ivan weren’t so determined to hiss and growl at him.

The two of them were fast friends back at the foster home. Dmitri seems not to mind Ivan – even the hissing and growling don’t phase him, until Ivan takes a swing at him. I made the mistake of assuming that since Ivan is sweet and loving with me that he would be with Dmitri – I forgot how territorial cats can be.

For the time being I’ve set up a home base for Dmitri in the bedroom. (It’s the only room in the house with a door and enough room for a litter box.) Dmitri is already adjusting well, which is good. Ivan is upset that I’m in here right now and he’s shut out. If I go out to spend time with Ivan, Dmitri starts yelling. I have no idea what’s going to happen when I try to get some sleep tonight. Good thing I have tomorrow off.

No pictures yet – I’ve been too busy keeping the peace here at the Winter Palace for snapshots. Dmitri is solid glossy black, even his nose. He’s a little smaller than Ivan – smaller bones, leaner. He has the same yellow eyes with the bright green ring around the iris. He doesn’t have the usual Russian Blue coat: Ivan’s coat is silver-grey, and both silky and plush. Dmitri’s is shorter and glossier without the thick undercoat. This leads me to suspect they’re not really brothers, but what I know about cat genetics wouldn’t dampen a thimble.

As soon as I get pictures I’ll put them up. I’m hoping Ivan will settle down and accept him soon.