2 posts tagged “bruegel”

I have been using FaceBook more recently. But I have also been quiet because we lost our old lady cat, Bruegel Passolini. She was my best buddy for sixteen years. She taught her brother Banjo how to be a kitty (when he thought he was a puppy). She helped me weather two breakups and multiple moves. She helped win over her Daddy Trent. She was the best cat ever. Here are some pictures for those of you not on Facebook:

Our big male cat, Banjo, was basically brought up in the ways of catness by Bruegel our 15-year-old, tiny female. Banjo was a miniscule (large-pawed) baby when we got him from SICSA (no-kill shelter) six years ago. He was completely cat-clueless, and we still harbor suspicions that he was a dog in his last life. We're pretty sure he knows he and Bruegel are the same kind of person...He sees her eat cheese (she is also known as "The Cheese Monger") and tries it for himself. He prefers crackers and bread thus earning the nickname "Carbo Cat" for himself. He sees her hiding in the sock drawer (another of her secret identities is "Sock Goblin") and he tries to fit his bulk into the same drawer. Banjo's secret identity is now "The acolyte" or "Babyman" or "Baby Moose" (sorry to Trent's Cousin Beth for this last...she understands).

Unlike his "sister" Banjo sleeps on his back, vaults into the air while "playing paperwad," and runs for cover when he hears human voices other than ours. His most endearing antic? When I leave the shower each morning, he sits on the mat and stares at me. He'll sit back on his haunches and wait. If I don't give him what he wants, he sometimes meows...however, he will always lift his paws up and stroke his own cheeks--he's showing me what he wants me to do. (I know there are scent glands there...so he's claiming me because I have had the audacity to wash off the Banjo scent...) He also regularly begs to go outside...never unsupervised..so that he can sit under the lilac & lick lilac dirt. Recently he's started eating grass because--you guessed it--he saw Miss Brueg doing it.

That is, in fact the only thing she'll do on her sojourns outside--eat grass until she urps. She has, however, played one game her entire life. Fifteen years ago, she came to me with a white fur mouse on a stick. She learned to chase it--in a circle...sometimes until she fell over, often until she woozily walks away overcome by dizziness. She also bestows Bruegie kisses (licks) and seems totally unaware that she has claws. Here are our furry keepers:

Bruegel's tongue often escapes her mouth. And, yes, Banjo is asleep in both of these photos.

You can check out the end of the previous entry for another picture of Miss Brueg (AKA Madame Pink Nose, Bruegel Anne, Bruegelinda, Bruegie...she prefers Empress of Everything).