My cat is driving me mad

I’m a cat lover from way back, they have always ruled the roost and been part of  my living space, even as a child. My father hated cats, but was overruled by his wife and four daughters who all loved cats. I did see him give them the odd kick up the backside when he could get away with it. But I am a pussy lover. Indeed I am a great defender or the honour of cats. I even got rid of my very last boyfriend as he did not like my cat.

So, I am usually a very tolerant person with cats, in fact my sister and I often joke that cats can do no wrong, but I may in fact have to amend that statement, because my cat is driving me mad. Meet Gracie, a fifteen year old tabby who occupies my tiny granny flat with me. She has always been a reasonably independent girl, happy with a sunny window sill to lie on, or my bed when its cooler. However, lately she seems to have become incredibly demanding. Always fussy about her food, she has made an art of turning up her soft little nose at the ten tins of home brand jelly-meat that I have bought on special at the supermarket.

Tired of coming home in the summer heat to a plate crusted with flies or ants which she has disdainfully left as it is not quite to her taste, I have become resigned to buying her human tins of tuna, and fresh beef mince which she enjoys with the odd dry cat biscuit or two. However, it is the importunate and persistent meowing as I walk in the door laden with shopping and desperate for a quick trip to the loo that is driving me spare. She sidles up and plaintively meows until I drop everything and feed her first. Then she goes outside to sit on the veranda after a couple of bites and then returns to the door to be let in again (refuses the cat door). And to add insult to injury, if I am too slow in leaping up to meet her needs, she will claw at the door mat which makes an annoying thump thump sound. So much so that I have now removed it.

Late at night when I’m off to bed, she hides under the coffee table and leaps out at me to bite my leg. It hurts.  I now am thinking of getting those shin pads that cricketers wear. If I lie on the couch to read a book or watch television she will get on my knee, and moan when I have to get up to do something. She is almost always attached to my lap if I am in a prone position, somewhat like a permanent merkin (pubic wig) – yes they do exist apparently.

I realise she is spoilt. She’s an old girl who is remarkably healthy, but I wonder if they start to show signs of dementia. Like me she is slowing down a little, and is getting stiffer in her movements. I’ll miss her sorely when she finally goes to cat heaven, but in the meantime, I suppose I must be tolerant of her annoying little habits. I’d love to hear if other’s have cats which have become a bit dithery as they have got older. My daughter had the cheek to say that Gracie and I were very similar, but I don’t think that’s right. I don’t go sitting on people’s laps. She does seem to be a little passive aggressive, which apparently I am, although I don’t really think so.

I once house-sat a cat who was a remarkable eighteen years old. Saying goodbye to Gracie forever will be a hard day when it happens, so I’ll just gather her up on my knee, tolerate her claws digging in as she does her pussy paddling up and down and enjoy stroking her soft fur. The sound of a cat’s purr is one of the nicest sounds I know. So, for now I’ll just put up with her driving me a little mad.

Maybe I’ll bust the budget and let her have a little tin of caviar for her breakfast (I’m just kidding)!

Does your pet ever make you feel a bit crazy?