After 12 hours of being missing, Vincent returns!!

This starts with quite a long story, but I’ll try and make it short.

Vincent has been having a hard time at the patio ever since Zurik gained access here. We all know how hard Vincent tried to prevent Zurik from coming in and…failed. And to Vincent, this is a big blow on his confidence because Vincent is a soldier at heart. His duty is to protect the patio from intruders and Zurik managed to…intrude.

To rub salt to injury, the Bird Family accepts Zurik. And this is despite the fact that Zurik bullies Rosie (he just chased Rosie again two days ago), yet Daffodil and Ginger (and even Rosie) touch noses affectionately with Zurik every morning during breakfast. It’s almost like, “Oh, we missed you all night, Zurik” – yes, you could hear this in their actions.

Then, as time went by, Ginger started bullying and being intimidating towards poor Vincent. Gradually, Vincent grew more and more afraid of Ginger until he would cower during breakfast and dare not even come near Ginger. If he does, Ginger postures towards him and chases him away.

Still, Vincent comes daily for breakfast and lunch. Nowadays, he disappears in between but will definitely turn up for both meals. As for the supper kibble snack, most times, Vincent isn’t here already.

Yesterday, Vincent came back late for lunch. He cowered at the corner, next to the bicycle and didn’t even dare to eat. Ginger only had to stare in his direction and he would shiver.

Yes, that’s Ginger we are talking about here. The new taikor of the patio.

Sweet-faced Ginger??

Yes, sweet-faced Ginger. Yes, him.

So yesterday, I sort of sensed that Vincent was trying to tell me something. For weeks now, I had have this feeling that one day, just as Timmy did (Timmy couldn’t stand Zurik), Vincent might find another home nearby and run away. There are a few homes around here that keeps cats, so finding another home may not be so much of a problem. Yesterday, I had a feeling that Vincent was telling me that he had found another home.

I just had that feeling, and I hoped I was wrong.

This morning, Vincent came for breakfast as usual and went off after that. As usual.

But by lunch time, he had not come back.

I went to look for him, but he was no where to be found.

By dinner time (which is the cats’ kibble supper), he was still not around.

What did you fellows do to Vincent?

Yes, you, especially…You sneaky chap.

Look at those eyes!

Ginger, what did you say to Vincent that made him go away??

After our dinner, I went out to look for Vincent again. As I approached the gate and called him, lo and behold….Vincent came walking back from the left side. It was as though he was already on his way back!!

Vincent’s back, everyone!!!  Vincent’s back!! Hooray!!!

Yay!!!

Have some supper, Vincent ol’ boy!

This is what always happens when he sees Ginger – he freezes and doesn’t dare eat at all.

Eat up, Vincent. Eat up, don’t be scared.

We had to keep Ginger at a distance.

Still, Vincent wasn’t comfortable.

He was more scared when Daffodil came out, so we had to put him up on the table.

We know what you are trying to do, Ginger. Please do not bully Vincent. Please.

Good boy, Vincy, good boy.

I call him “Vincy” for short.

Maybe we haven’t been giving him much reassurance lately.

Vincent LOVES being cuddled.  He just loves attention and maybe we should give him more of it. But he does have a knack of “taking advantage” once attention is showered on him.

Where did Ginger go now?

A little angry, perhaps.

Not easy, eh? Maintaining peace and equilibrium in a cat colony. Ultimately, we humans can only do so much. Cat politics is quite beyond our total control.

 What happened??  Let me in on it!!

Can you just imagine how much drama there would have been if our 7 inside cats were not confined? Like way back in the old house, Indy, Tiger and Pole had to take shelter at neighbour’s houses and Indy and Pole were fighting for territory at the same house. Tabs never had a place. Cow and Bunny ruled the whole street, from alley to alley. No other cat dared to come in. Not a single one.

Life wouldn’t have been the same if we had let them loose in our present house. We wouldn’t even have had the Bird Family living with us. Perhaps only Heidi would have been able to conquer her way in, because Heidi doesn’t really care. She will find her way, somehow.

Cats…don’t you just love ’em?!!