Kedi and Maia are bonded sisters. They sleep together. They groom one another. They are loyal allies, and they are playmates. Sometimes, Kedi is the predator and Maia is the prey. At other times, the game is the other way around. As they play, they hone one another’s skills – attack and evade.  Â
When Susan and I move around the house, from one room to another, Kedi and Maia rush to our sides. They want to be close to us so that we can face the next encounter together. It isn’t that they are fearless. Maia, in particular, is a cautious and reticent spirit. Where Kedi welcomes an outstretched hand and its touch, Maia withdraws. Susan and I think that Maia was mistreated by humans when she was very young. Since she responds that way to me but not to Susan, we think that it was a human male that mistreated her. Alas. I am a proxy for all the meanness and cruelty that she endured as a kitten. Sigh.
Nonetheless, as we move from room to room, the pride gathers around us to support us. There is safety and power in our togetherness. Kedi knows this, and so does Maia. There are times that we must set aside our fears and misgivings –times when we must show our strength standing together. Kedi and Maia know this. So do we.
Perhaps Western Europe and the United States know it as well. We shall see.
Our three cats behave similarly. Miss Kitten is the mother to Hank. Sarah adopted Muushu when a lady told her sad story at the bank one day. They often hang out together but at any given time can decide enough is enough. One can gaze upon them to see one grooming another. At any given moment, tender caring can change to hissing and clawing.
Hopefully we will not experience human hissing and clawing!