Reflections of Dax the Orange Cat

Purr to you, the fine humans of our world. Being a cat of the orange persuasion gives me certain rights and responsibilities. I feel that it is my duty to inform the two-leggeds of some of the injustices that I have endured.

On the whole, my domicile is a happy one. There are many soft spots for long naps. My female human feeds me on a regular basis and keeps our water bowl filled. Though at times she is slow to turn on the faucet when I ask her to do so in my charming manner of purr talking. I do not hold that against her.

There are a few disappointments that I must deal with. I think the problem lies in the fact that as a male of my species, I am out numbered and disrespected. Of the four felines living in our house, I am the only Tom.

I do have two male canine compadres, Rio and 2nd Chance, who I am rather close to and who treat me with respect.

Rio is the older of the two and is quite a nice fellow. He protects all of us and will correct us on occasion. I don't mind much, because he is so wise and kind.

Second Chance is much younger and is not so nice. He grumbles and growls when I rub on him and is very selfish most of the time.

The dogs and I have an understanding and a bond. But some of the felines in the household are under the mistaken impression that they rule and they don't know how to have fun, either.

I try to liven things up with my games of hide and pounce, but all I get for my efforts are hisses and grumbling.

In fact, Blaze, the oldest of the three she cats, has the nerve to scream as if I have injured her and run to the woman with grumbling and growling if I even turn my eyes in her direction... the nerve!

Star Noir is a little better and we have been known to share long naps on our screened porch habitat. She can give as good as she gets and we have come to a mutual understanding.

Little Pepper, the newest member of our tribe, was a shy little mouse when she was first adopted into our family. Now, however, she is so bold as to try to reprimand others who are not doing exactly as our human wants. Unbelievable!

Because of all the she cat goings on in the house, I will occasionally... well maybe every day ... try to escape outdoors with my canine friends. Actually, it has become a sort of hide and seek game with my human that I rather enjoy.

I'm not sure if she enjoys it as much as I do. I always come to her, eventually, when I get hot or tired. Shouldn't that be enough? But no, I still must hear the lecture about animals much larger than I am hurting me. Ridiculous!

I weigh almost 20 pounds and have very sharp teeth and claws. I can run fast and climb high. I am in superb condition, at the peak of my game. She need not worry about me.

Why shouldn't I go outside with Rio and 2nd Chance, the dogs? I am almost as large as the smaller of the two. They get to enjoy the outdoors several times a day by exploring or lying in the sun. I simply want to go out with them and play with all the interesting creatures that I encounter.

Sometimes at night, when I sit on the porch, the little creatures creep under the screen door. I quickly pounce on them and carry them through my little door into the house so that we can play. When I tire of them, I let them go their way.

The next day, or sometimes a couple of days later, when my human finds them she is not pleased.

She is always telling me not to kill things and giving me toys to play with, but they are not as much fun. I also fear that I just do not know my own strength. I am such a large, handsome orange cat (if I do say so myself).

As I read over the words I have written, I come to realize that my situation is not as bad as I first believed.

Little Pepper has told me tales of some of the horrific events that she endured while she was living free outside. Blaze and Star Noir also have told stories of not having enough food to eat and attacks by larger animals.

Even my canine buddies, Rio and 2nd Chance have lived through difficult circumstances. Each of my house mates has a story to tell.

Perhaps I should be thankful for what I have and for the fact that my humans brought me and the others in my tribe to a better place than what we had before. I was a very small kitten when I came here, but I do remember living in a room that smelled of antiseptic.

Even so, I still do not see the harm in my going outside on occasion, to play.

Dax Orange Cat,
Prince of Hummingbird Hill