She ain't no spring chicken!

    She definitely is getting up there in age.  Ms. Put, the cat, is starting to show her age here lately.  Don't get me wrong.  She is still Queen of the Bayou in all ways but she just moves a bit slower, eats a lot less and spends most of her day sleeping under the camellia bush.  Both Michael and I have noticed that she has also mellowed a good bit in the past few months.  It is rare to see her temper fly as much as it has in the past.  My goodness, she has even started tolerating the dog, Ms. Ez!  That, in itself, is worth noting as in the past, she would have bitten off the dog's head if she was so inclined.   As of late, however, she lounges within a few feet of the dog as if she does not notice her presence.

  All of this started just about the time that the new cat, Nycto, made her appearance.  I am not sure if there is any connection between the two or if this is just a mere coincidence. At first, Ms. Put tried to put an end to the intrusion by this other female cat.  There were the nightly fights and daily temper tantrums by both.  After a month or so, this settled into a mutual dislike for each other but, also, a ceasefire by both.  Ms. Put now hangs around the front of the house while Ncyto has taken up residence in the back.  The truce seems to satisfy both so all is well on the hill.  

  Perhaps Ms. Put has decided that her role as Queen can now be taken a bit more seriously.  With a new cat about, she can now spend more time doing regal things like sitting and staring out over the Bay.  She has the opportunity to catch up on her beauty sleep and not be constantly on the prowl.  Her hunting days are limited to whenever she has the whim and not to constantly battle all rodents within the entire county!  Maybe she is ceding some of the duties to this much younger cat and has settled into just being Queen of the Bayou.  At least, I hope this is what has brought on the change.  I really like this cat.  She has been around here for nigh on seventeen years now so is more like family than just a pet.  She has been through thick and thin with us so we will definitely make hers a life of ease if at all possible.