Cleo, our cat during the ’50s & ’60s, was a prolific kitten maker. A promiscuous child, to say the least. She had a wonderful relationship with Heidi and Brutus, staying with them when they played during the day and sleeping with them at night.
This story takes us back to Cleo’s 1st litter. When she began to give birth to the 9 that she had, Heidi placed her large head next to her. When the 1st kitten arrived (and we were there watching), Heidi gently put the kitten in her mouth. We freaked, thinking she was going to eat it, but she gently carried it to her box and began to clean the newborn. This continued with the nine kittens, and each time after the cleaning, she brought the kitten back and placed it next to Cleo. Cleo never flinched while Heidi took and returned each back to her. Animals do communicate. We can learn so much from them. Over the years, Cleo gave birth to a total of 48 kittens, and we found a home for every one of them. And now, the rest of the story.
During each spring beginning in 1960, we would move a whole bunch of stuff to Camp Shasta in preparation for staff and campers arriving at camp. No 600-mile trip could be wasted, so we moved as much stuff as possible. A typical trip might include a water ski boat, kayaks, sailboat, and on one of the first trips, a filly the kids at Purple Sage named “Sy-The-Clown” And eventually shortened to “Cyclone.” The mare that gave us Cyclone was a big Tennessee Walker with “71” blazoned on her flank; we called her 71. So, Cyclone (the filly) grew up with Heid, Brutus, and Cleo and honestly thought she was one of the family. They treated her as if she was. But the point to the story is that as Lenette and I drove to camp with them all, when we stopped for a break, we “ALL” went for a walk, usually at night, People came to witness our parade. We must have looked like a page out of Noah’s biblical Story.
Sy
Cleo, Heidi, Cyclone and Brutus. What wonderful friends to have. Difficult to know what to say about these animals, your family members. These kinds of animals as well as others, e.g., elephants, respond to kind treatment, no question. They care for one another. They care for their humans, too. When Lois and I go for walks in our “new” neighborhood, we try to stop dog walkers so we can pet their dogs. Few dogs dislike this; their humans are often chary of their own pets’ behaviors. One couple of a certain age have a large, snowy white labradoodle called Trooper who loves to have his chin skritched. Can’t think of a dog we’ve petted who didn’t like that.