Tea and Conversation

I am concerned for the Ever Expanding Cat . Although she seems the same otherwise , her vast girth has quietly diminished . Her spine , long hidden by thick layers of blubber befitting a small harbor seal , is now easily seen and her voracious appetite for kibbles has shrunk to dainty nibbles of canned kitty tuna . The attachment to me has increased...now , more than ever ," I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me ". With my schedule change , I've felt badly
and her garage sleeping arrangements have been changed to sharing my bed . The new plan is not without grave consequences resulting in much sleep loss for me . If the previously documented nap attempts were exercises in futility , surely this extended period of largesse is foolish to the extreme ! Guilt is a cruel taskmistress .
To add insult to injury , she has recently chosen to express her indignation at my new schedule in a particularly vile way . She is greeted in an enthusiastic , affectionate manner , is speedily fed her meal of choice and she then follows me as I sit down, proceeds to position herself facing me and" sprays " . I'd read about such phenomena...usually about male cats (whose behavior resulted in a swift trip to the vet for "corrective surgery" ) . I foolishly thought that the "spray " was something like what came out of my plant mister . Wrong ! What results is the difference between baby spit-up and projectile vomiting ! It turns out that this behavior can happen not only to "mark" territory , but also from illness , old age or...from stress and anxiety . A trip to the vet is recommended to determine which of the last three and medication can help in any case .
And so over the river and through the wood we will go...EEC howling all the way in her least favorite mode of travel...tucked into the dreaded cat carrier with ruffled dignity...in the car...sigh...