Friday, June 30, 2006

Merlin is slowing down.

I think it started getting to be really noticeable about 4 to 5 months ago. He is, after all, coming up on 16 years old this year. Wherever - whoever - he came from, his progenitor must've had pretty good genes, because except for a cyst on his cheek a few years ago, he's been extremely healthy, unlike every other cat we've had that got older (excluding Mitri). I pray most nights he'll continue to have good health. We need to take him to the vet for an overall checkup in the next few weeks. We don't need another ongoing cat crisis in the house, thank you.

Sleeping more is normal for a cat, so you can't go by that, but he is more reluctant to jump (up or)on things than he used to be. He can still do it, mind you.

I've been spending a lot of time in the office at our compoter(s) this year, and he has seen that as a time to get on my lap. Being as he's been much better behaved these days, I try to indulge him. He's always had jealousy issues when a new cat was introduced (fortunately, not so much with Kioko), so if this makes him feel like he's getting the attention he demands, then I'm willing to oblige him.

So, when I'm sitting down, sometimes he jumps up himself, but other times, he just sits there and stares at me until I haul him up. Either that, or he tries to haul himself up without jumping, which usually results in him digging his claws into my leg or falling back down clumsily.

Almost along the same time frame, he's taken to wanting to sleep next to me on the bed at night. Last summer, he was on the "Alpha Cat" position on the pillow, above my head, where Sky used to sleep. But he moved down as the weather got colder because he likes the electric blanket we use, plus he can either get between Nora and me or snuggle up against my side. So, at this point, I think mainly he just likes being beside me now.

Interestingly, he doesn't seem to get very jealous of Loki when we wants to "schnozzle" with me - even if the two of them are almost touching. I've had a number of occasions at the computer, with the Pig on my lap and Loki wants to "schnozzle" at the same time. So, as long as I hold Loki close enough to me that he's not invading Merlin's personal space, he doesn't care. Plus, Loki never stays for more than 5 - 10 minutes before the "mother ship" (another story) calls and he suddenly pushes off and goes on his way.

I'm really hoping he has a few more good years in him yet, because he's gotten to be a pretty good pet without the territory issues he used to have when Max was still alive and healthy. Loki and Kioko pretty much leave him alone, and that's the way he likes it. We don't get so much of the cries for attention in the evenings that we used to (stories for another time), so all is relatively well at the moment.