Name: Blackie Jamison

Blackie was a 7 year old cat, who had spent about a year
around older cats, as he led a guild dedicated to them.
He saw a lot of change among them as they grew older.
And he saw that he himself would soon experience those
changes as he too, grew older. One thing he noticed...

Name: Lloyd

...was that all of the older cats liked having him as their leader.
They would listen very carefully to any suggestions that Blackie
had to solve some of their senior problems. One senior cat
had the problem of throwing up his food too often.
Blackie suggested that the cat...

Name: Shibui

...might have a hairball, but there was the possibility
that the symptoms could be a sign of something more
serious. He recommended that his friend get an opinion
from his veterinarian, just in case. The senior cat
replied, "That's furry good advice, Blackie, but...

Name: Lloyd

...I am furry afraid of going to the Vet's. I meow on the
whole car trip. I do not like to leave my cat carrier
when I am in the Vet's office and I meow
and hiss at her. How do I get over my fear
of the Vet so I can be examined?"...

Name: Lloyd

...Well, pondered Blackie..."Maybe you should try to relax
more and then you will not be so scared of the Vet. She only
wants to help you find out the reason for your throwing up.
I know that it is usually a normal thing for us cats to throw up."
"Purrs," said the afflicted kitty, "thank mew furry much
fur your concern, Blackie. I will try to relax more when
I visit the Vet." Another older kitty approached Blackie
and asked him for some advice. He said...

Name: Patches Jezabelle

..."Everyday I have lots of young cats around me. They respect
me but they are disturbing my nap! I am just about ready
to romp in catnip dreamland and then some kitten will attack
my handsome tail! Or they play with those blasted jingle
balls! What is an older kitty to do?" Blackie pondered
this and said,...

Name: Spike Brewer

..."It's time to teach those kittens some manners. Explain
in a nice way that mew are not to be bothered while you
are napping and could they kindly play elsewhere. If
that does not work, I find a gentle hissing gets the
message across. No flared tail or laid down ears, just
a reminder that mew are the older kitty." That answered,
Blackie curled up for a nap of his own when...

Name: Lloyd

...he heard some kitties running in the hallway. They were
having a great time playing "hide and seek." Blackie, being
furry tired "Meowed to the kitties to go play elsewhere."
Now he understood what the older kitty was trying to tell him.
The kitties did go play elsewhere because of Blackie's upsetting
"Meowr, I am tired." The younger kitties showed respect to
Blackie and mewed that they were sorry. Blackie later told the
other kitty whose nap was disturbed by the younger kitties,
"Now I understand why you were upset in losing your nap.
Why don't we...

Name: Blackie Jamison

...both go to sleep elsewhere, now that this is all cleared
up. Let's let the kitties have fun in this area whilst we
get our sleep in a quieter area. I am sure that both of them
and us will be happy with this arrangement." The kitty agreed
and they went to sleep on the window ledge, to the satisfaction
of the kitties playing. A few days later, fights started
breaking out between the OCS members. The two cats started
arguing about...

Name: Shibui

...whose turn it was to clean up the meeting room. One said,
"I always get stuck with the job, it's about time you assumed
some responsibility!" "That's not fair," replied his friend.
"The last time I offered to help, you said, 'I'd rather do it
my way!' Blackie overheard the argument from the next room.
He wondered what he could do to settle the dispute; then, he
had a brilliant idea...

Name: Lloyd

...make up a list of cats whose turn it is to do chores. Now,
everyone will know what day they have to do a chore. There
will be a list for dishes,sweeping, dusting, laundry, yard work
and any other suggestions?" purred Blackie. "Yes, I will take
a turn too. I respect all you older cats and I will help. Now,
who wants to be the first cat to volunteer for dishes?"...

Name: Spike Brewer

...All kitties like to nap so I assume older kitties enjoy napping.
Do older kitties have preferences as to where they nap?
Mew, things like a soft pillow, fur rug, a warm spot or cool
spot, under the bed, on the bed, on top of hoomins, that sort of
thing? Please meow into the microphone so I won't miss anything.
Blackie stretched as far as he could while giving himself a chance
to organize his thoughts. He meowed:...

Name: Blackie Jamison

..."Senior cats are still cats. All cats like to sleep as high up as they can,
or in a dark quiet area. Seniors do too. But, they always prefer a quiet area
overall. It is not as easy as it used to be avoiding noisy cats while sleeping!"
The cat, pleased with Blackie's answer, walked off to do his report.
Blackie smiled to himself and happily realized that the OCS was still here,
still independent, and until it was closed, he'd always be able to help
the seniors. Until the day he himself grew old, he'd have ahead start
in knowing what it would be like. And that was fine for him.

The End

This story of Blackie was written from July 23, 2000 until
September 4, 2000 and is dedicated to Blackie Jamison,
former leader of the Older Cats Society.

        

The Black Cat Rag by Frank Wooster & Ethyl B. Smith (1905)
Sequenced by Warren Trachtman
 

 

© Older Cats Society