The Protector

Hmmm, where to start this post??? As I type, Shadow is sitting on my desk looking out the window on a bright and sunny morning. Smokey is sleeping in on the bed in the Master bedroom, and Bear is ... well... just where is Bear??  I'm not sure, since he has the complete run of the house now and is making himself right at home. Usually, he is wherever I am, so he must be outside :-).  I named Shadow because he was always underfoot as a kitten, thus, my Shadow.  Maybe BK should have been named, "Protector".  Anyway.....  Shadow and Bear continue to touch noses in greeting from time to time, and Shadow is experiencing new and different foods thanks to Bear.  If there is an open can of cat food, Shadow wants to know what it is!  I've only bought the Fancy Feast for the past several years, because that is all Smokey and Shadow would eat in terms of canned food. I had tried others in the early years (they've been here over 4 1/2 years now, how time flies...) but threw it out so often that I gave up. BK's appetite is HUGE; thankfully, he likes Friskies and 9 Lives canned food. So, to facilitate "brotherhood", I feed all of the cats at the same time and Shadow gets a bit of whatever Bear is having!  Bear has sampled the Fancy Feast, but 

thankfully, he prefers the less expensive stuff, because he eats way more of it.  Smokey remains aloof, eating every morsel of HIS Fancy Feast so no one else has any leftovers to clean up! Smokey and Bear continue their tap-dance and have provided some real entertaining moments. Last night, Bear was on one side of the large ottoman, Smokey on the other and each was looking around the corners to see where the other one was when suddenly, Bear jumped up ONTO the ottoman and scared the dickens out of Smokey, then jumped off, right over him!!  Later, well actually about 3AM, I think Smokey decided to come jump up on MY bed. Well, Bear was at his post on the tartan at the foot of the bed, and although I can't attest to exactly what happened, the howls had me bolt upright, and the aftermath was a bit hairy... literally. Smokey has a dense, 

longish fur that certainly served him well in this fray. No blood was drawn, and I think I see a small patch of missing fur on his left rear flank but he's none the worse for wear.  I wonder if those two will always have this love/hate relationship?? Well, only time will tell ... Bear has only been a member of the inside family with full run for less than a week.  I buried my face in Smokey's fur this morning and he purred so he and I are okay... but it appears that Bear has elected himself my security guard in the overnight hours (which is totally awesome, BTW!!). He is either on the bed, staked out at the window,or lying in the doorway ~ he has all access points covered and does NOT seem willing to let another critter into 'our' space.  Shadow and Smokey rarely used to visit my room overnight anyway; I wonder if they ever will again??? 

During the day however, they get a lot of my attention so I don't feel I'm slighting them in favor of the new addition.  And I think, in time, they will all learn to peacefully co-exist, just maybe not in the same room, while I'm sleeping♥

**********

"Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile." ~ Franklin P James

**********