Stella's Blankie

by Clarence of Beldon

Stella is the youngest of four cats in the home on Twin Brook. She arrived as a kitten four years ago. She was rescued from a teenage person whose boyfriend gave her a cat without asking her Mom first. Stella is the most playful cat in the household. She bats toys around the floor at all hours. She climbs on everything. She especially enjoys playing (wrestling) with dog Ashley. Though Ashley is 80 pounds the two quickly became best buddies. Ashley mothered the kitten, licking it and playing with Stella. They never hurt each other, knowing just how hard they can bite without breaking the skin. Four years later they still wrestle on occasion.

When Stella arrived there as a kitten she would knead and chew the bed sheets, it was one of her few flaws. The persons tried to "cure" her obsession by pushing her away or covering the edge of the sheet with the blanket or scolding her. Nothing stopped her from coming back to the bed sheets. After three years the she person decided to throw in the towel, or more accurately the pillowcase. It was a wise choice, Stella now has, "Her Blankie" and will only chew on her own pillowcase. She never touched the sheets or other pillows again. Every few weeks her pillowcase goes in the wash. It takes her two days to realize it is back, presumably because it does not smell the same. Then she is back to kneading, usually during the day.

In the house on Twin Brook, Helen rules the bed at night. The calico kitty does not match the soft, friendly, homey image the cloth calico suggests. She will hiss, growl, and charge at Stella if the young cat gets on the bed. She does allow Sidney an occasional nap on the bed but he is a wimp anyway. Tonya, well she never goes in any room that the dog is allowed in so never enters the bedroom. Every once in awhile Stella will fly up on the bed, fly across, and leap down the other side barely touching the surface. This is because she saw Helen and decided it was not safe to stay. But if Helen has left the room Stella will go straight to her blankie. It is one of the rare times Stella will purr. And purr she does, nonstop regardless of how much the he person wants to sleep (her pillowcase is about a foot from his head).

If you think he should be able to sleep through the purring there is another thing she only does when kneading: Head Butts. In a blankie session she will pause, walk over to his face, lower her head, and butt him. Cheek, nose, forehead, or whatever will be struck by Stella's forehead. I'm sure she means it as a show of appreciation. Having her own pillowcase to chew has been a highlight of her life. He may get two or three head butts per session. I heard if Helen stays away for an hour or two Stella will have two or three kneading sessions. This means at least some time the he person will be jarred awake by a strong young cat giving me a sturdy, "Head Butt of Appreciation."

As told by Clarence of Beldon

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