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September 23, 2004
A cat may look at a Queen ....
In the 17th and 18th Century that saying probably had a lot more meaning to it - it would have been a subversive statement to say the least, since it was not permitted for a subject to look directly into the face of the reigning sovereign! However, no cat ever obeyed the laws set by humans, and "real" cats especially so. As many will know, I live with a "real" cat. She is demanding, insistent, and undoubtedly Top Cat in this household! If you are not sure what a "Real" Cat is - read Terry Pratchett and Alan Joliffe's small book on the subject!
A very good friend in Germany lives with a cat called Mausi (The German for Mouser!) who is very definitely both a Real Cat and Top Cat in their household. When she feels they are not providing the right kind of food, or not behaving correctly towards her, she pops out and brings back some mice, some birds, and the occasional rabbit. Her demeanour on these occasions is very much one of "if you can't provide properly for me, then you are certainly not providing for yourselves adequately, either!"
In much the same way the Madam Paddy Cat moved in on me, Mausi moved in on them as soon as they had moved into their house. Whenever either of them is away from home for any reason, Mausi takes charge and ensures that the missing member of her "family" is in no doubt of her opinion of "absentees" when they return.
So the old saying may have been subversive in suggesting that you should ignore convention - it certainly states the perspective of a Cat. Especially a Real Cat!
Posted by The Gray Monk at September 23, 2004 08:09 AM