Mr Pussy In The Dog Days
The sagacious Mr Pussy
There is an exceptional hush upon the East End, with Ramadan and the Olympics conspiring to empty the streets of locals and tourists alike. The clouds hang heavy and the atmosphere is quiet, and my cat Mr Pussy divides his time between dozing on the bed and dozing under a bush. The pace of the city is stilled and Mr Pussy finds the climate conducive to resting.
Mr Pussy observes me with doleful eyes as I go about my daily tasks, too gracious to be overtly critical, yet he hopes that I might one day learn to appreciate the virtue of sitting peacefully for extended periods of time without other occupation, as he does. To this end, Mr Pussy waits patiently until a suitable opportunity when I am settled at my work before he approaches me. Arriving silently like a ghost, Mr Pussy reaches out a soft paw to stroke my forearm gently while I am writing, as a discreet gesture of companionship, drawing my attention without interrupting my activity.
Settling at my side and savouring the tranquillity of the hour, a purr of contentment emanates from him. And if my concentration should wander from my page, searching for a word or casting around to seek the direction of my thought, then I chance upon his hypnotic golden eyes, meeting my gaze with their fathomless depth and opalescent gleam. He has my attention. He has an infinite capacity for staring. He knows I am a neophyte and he is an expert at it. He knows I cannot resist succumbing to his superior mesmeric powers. He has me spellbound and I share his stillness. The house is empty and we are alone. We look at each other eye to eye, without blinking, to see who flinches first.
Almost imperceptibly, Mr Pussy begins to lower his lids and I do the same. I follow along, as his supplicant. Our eyelids move in sync and we are nodding off to sleep, it seems. I might enter the feline realm, if I did not open my lids again momentarily – only to discover that his eyes are open too. It is a moment of mutual recognition. Mr Pussy was testing the quality of my will, exploring my susceptibility to mental control. Mr Pussy observes me. Mr Pussy is implacable, yet he wants me to follow his example. Mr Pussy knows how to be. Mr Pussy keeps himself. Mr Pussy seeks to be calm. Mr Pussy is always present in the moment. Mr Pussy is sufficient.
Equally, Mr Pussy is curious of me and the intriguing nature of my existence that revolves around things other than eating and sleeping. I am the object of his scrutiny, Mr Pussy is studying me. Mr Pussy is an anthropologist, living among those who are subject of his fascination. Mr Pussy’s research methods are unconventional, he thinks he may gain knowledge by osmosis if he sleeps close to me or he may imbibe understanding by lapping up my bathwater.
Not always an entirely conscientious student, Mr Pussy likes to contemplate his findings at length. Mr Pussy likes to sleep on it, and he is a grand master in the art of somnolence. Mr Pussy knows how to behave in these dog days.
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mr pussy is wise indeed
Lovely story! Did you know that when staring at each other, if you slowly close your eyes and your cat then does the same, then that is the same as smiling at each other! I am always doing that with my cat Crumpet.
‘Mr Pussy is always present in the moment. Mr Pussy is sufficient.’
And it is that, that above all, that they, they the other animals, have to teach us. How wise of you to see it – and to know it. How easy it is for us to forget. I understand now, I remember now, why I am lost without an other-animal companion.
He’s a treasure!
Gorgeous feline!
Mr Pussy’s eyes are entrancing as is he, who wouldn’t fall in love with him.
every sentence purrs….. thank you so much.
Oh what a wonderful piece, and what marvellous photos. Mr Pussy is to be celebrated indeed.
Mr Pussy looks remarkably like a much calmer version of our Jazz. And indeed I hope that Jazz grows up to be as nice as Mr Pussy instead of perfecting his current role of pyscho cat from hell. He is extraordinarily cute – but he needs to be.
This piece is a treasure, as is Mr. Pussy. Thank you!
” Mr Pussy is an anthropologist, living among those who are subject of his fascination. ”
priceless , absolutely priceless as is the whole post , the whole blog , your whole aesthetic in word form.
Dear Gentle Author , I am so glad that you have mr pussy to keep an amber eye on you .
Anyone who has lived with cats will savour the truth of your observations. ‘Mr Pussy is sufficient’ – they are, aren’t they? Unlike us.
mr. p, here’s a nice saucer of pimm’s. you are The Man.
Mr Pussy is lovely and the twin of a black cat that I had ,Sooty was his name and he was such a charactor just as Mr Pussy is.
love mr pussy, bet he knows who the pussies are
Mr Pussy a darling of a cat , he reminds me so much of my posh who is sadly no longer with us . I have just come across this website its brilliant , as a true east ender its great reading 🙂