The Hierarchy of Cats

Once upon a time, our Senior Cat was in the Junior Cat rating in our home. He was the third of a cat-family-of-three to adopt us and call us 'family'. He knew his place within our cat population and was content to be Third in Line to the Throne (you can read about that here). Things have changed ...

Our Senior Cat evolved into being our Only Cat for many years. He fell into that role like he was bred for it. He was comfortable with his power, graced us with his feline presence and did his very best to share his love equally among his Humans.

Then along came Junior Cat. Senior enjoyed this novelty cat until he realized that he was here to stay! There was a definite change in his posture and attitude when this annoying guest decided to move in.

You know how little things become more, the longer they go on? Senior Cat must have been aghast at his new room-mate. 

Junior was a pig when it came to litter etiquette. He threw litter everywhere and seemed to dominate both litter boxes. Then there was the matter of the water dish. Junior didn't like the dish-placement, so he would scoot it to the middle of the kitchen floor. Then to top it all off, he would tip it over when he was done playing. 

Senior Cat knew all of the prime spots to nap and Junior was determined to nab each and everyone of them as soon as Senior vacated them:

Senior Cat: "These are MY pillows, on MY couch, in MY Chosen Human's Room!"
Junior Cat (thinks to himself): "Yes, Sire. But you can't sleep there forever! I will wait for my turn ..."

Then there are all of the best bird-watching, life-passing-you-by watching spots in the house. Though Junior thinks that we don't know how often he gazes into our neighbor's trees (via the kitchen window), his 'THUD' to the floor each time he hears us approaching is a dead give away. The living room window is the Human Approved spot to vie for. Just last week they finally agreed to share the space. Prior to this, it was a first come, first served deal (otherwise known as Senior Cat first; Junior Cat when it was available):

Our Black-Cat-Bookends (I wonder if they would let me stack a few books in between them some time??)

It has taken a while, but there seems to be a symbiotic relationship developing among our two Favorite Felines. Though Senior Cat likes to sit above the rest, he seems quite content to enjoy the companionship of his partner-in-cathood.

Senior looks upon the horizon and tells Junior of his impending power ...

Our two kitties remind me of the exchange between Mufasa and Simba in the Lion King:

Mufasa: Look, Simba. Everything the light touches is our kingdom. 

Young Simba: Wow. 

Mufasa: A king's time as ruler rises and falls like the sun. One day, Simba, the sun will set on my time here, and will rise with you as the new king. 

Young Simba: And this'll all be mine? 

Mufasa: Everything. 

Young Simba: Everything the light touches... 

As Senior continues to wheeze and cough despite his steroid treatment and the gold-nugget-cat food which has his hair looking better than it ever has looked before ... I worry. Every living being is here only for a finite amount of time. I don't want Junior to have to 'take power' any time soon. In the mean time, it warms my heart to see the exchanges between our two favorite felines. Each of them knows their spot in our home and in our hearts. Knowing one makes us appreciate the other in their opposite manners. I hope our Senior Kitty is around long enough to teach Junior everything he has learned ...