Two cats not of Kilkenny

I don't know whether it's an Irish nursery rhyme, limerick or short poem, but it goes like this:

There once were two cats of Kilkenny.
Each thought there was one cat too many.
So they fought and they fit,
And they scratched and they bit,
'Til except for their nails,
And the tips of their tails,
Instead of two cats,
There weren't any!

We definitely do not have the two cats of Kilkenny. In the course of an ordinary day there is peace and harmony in the house with each of them sleeping in his or her own sunny spot. From time to time those sunny spots can even be very close to each other without any problem.

But there are days when Patat is so little-brotherish that Mily becomes vocal the moment he enters the room. And he can be quite devious in the way he taunts her – innocently lying in the sun close to her and then stretching specifically in her direction to prod her in the side. It is just enough to be a nuisance and too little to be seen as harassment. However, she knows exactly what his intentions are and informs us accordingly. We are then obliged to say “Patat!” in a very stern voice. He lies stretched out on his back, eyes wide open with an expression that says, “What? What…..?!”

This picture was taken shortly after such a taunting session on our bed. No blood was spilled and they fell asleep very close to each other with him clasping her tail lovingly. I think he is absolutely convinced that she has no higher aim in life than trying to be his teddy bear.

Photograph by George Angus

Long story short: we have two cats. Still do.

George

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