More Kittens

Little Shadow is washing her elder brother as I type. She has been hero-worshipping today, because around 5am Jasper invaded our yard. Again. Jasper is a Burmese tomcat who keeps trying to muscle into our household. So Dougal went forth to do battle on behalf of his girl-cats and fluffed his fur out to the max. Hissing and growling, this little kitten faced down his much bigger adversary. And Shadow washed him all over thereafter.

I am reminded of an essay of Saki's in which he contrasts the behaviour of puppies and kittens. Faced with a bigger adversary a puppy will grovel. Yet a kitten, says he, will "brace its tiny body for frantic resistance". I cannot read the essay again since the finale is too sad for words, yet I believe he is right. Courage is bred into the bone with cats.

And now they are asleep in each others' arms. I will forbear from photography since it may wake them. They deserve their companionable rest.