August is upon the DC Metro area. For those unfamiliar with this time of year, it’s when you can switch between your local weather forecast, and that of Baton Rouge, LA, and not see that much of a difference. Storms roll in with frequency and ferocity. The humidity is almost drinkable. Energy levels drop. Most, who can, try to escape the area for a location with an ocean, or a pool, or some other form of weather which doesn’t resemble a pot of water slowly coming up to a boil.
My cat, Tellus, tends to reflect my moods on these days. Unlike Adia, who has manic moments that annoy the heck out of us, Tellus has a few basic mood settings:
(1) Food? Girl? – This is when he’s most active. If food is involved, he leaps to action, rushing downstairs to catch the auto-feeder. And, if one of the girls is in the kitchen, or lounging in the dining area, he’s right there. He sits at the edge of his invisible fence line, watching, mewing piteously for some attention.
(2) Sunbeam. Sleep. – On high heat afternoons, or winter afternoons, he will curl himself up on a low box we have on the floor and rest. Sometimes, Adia will cram in there with him. It’s rarely a state of activity. It’s a recharge point.
(3) Hey. What’s up? – This is his relatively normal state. He’ll wander around, bumping against someone seated on the couch, looking for petting. It may charge into “Hey! What’s that?!” if he’s excited enough. He’ll chase after his favorite toys, gnaw and gnash at them, before coming back for pettings or to just sit atop one of the couch pillows. For him, that’s a big way he just stays part of the action.
(4) You don’t see me. Go away. – He hides under the coffee table, where we keep the blankets. Or, under the couch. Or anywhere he can. Sometimes, he will hide away when he’s not feeling sociable. Other times, it’s because the doorbell rang and he hates people.
And lastly: (5) Oh. Hey. It’s you. – this can be mistaken for “Hey. What’s up?” but there’s a tinge of melancholy. He won’t move for the doorbell. He won’t move for the ball. When food appears, he doesn’t react. Physical symptoms only happen once or twice. They have to be registered with care. But most of the time he’s just there. Existing. In the August heat, all reet.
Biomechanoid Blues 