9 lb. Tyrant

Our cat, Persephone, rules the house. You might wonder how 9 lbs. of black & white feline could take over 1200 feet of apartment. It is sheer force of will through which Persephone controls us - oh, and the savage temper, sharp teeth and claws. By control I'm not talking having doors opened or the water dish filled on command, simply to keep her content in her kitty world. We do what we can to keep her happy because we're afraid of making her angry. A pissed-off Persephone is a friend to none.

Have I mentioned her adorable pink nose?

She started her reign of terror almost immediately after we brought her home from the SPCA. She was unbelievably cute - long black & white fur, intensely green eyes and a fluffy skunk tail with a white spot on the tip. She was also extremely friendly, cuddling with anyone and insisting that she snuggle up with one of our hands. A trait we found endearing… at first. She'd sit and make purring/cooing noises while gazing up at us adoringly. We were totally smitten. Soon, though, the hand stealing was rampant and the growls unleashed at the foolish person who tried to free their upper limb from her grasp grew more and more aggressive.

Look at those tufts of fur between her toes! Have you ever seen anything more delightful?

After she was spayed (a traumatic voyage back to the SPCA to say the least - we had no idea she was pregnant when we adopted her a few weeks before - "No, we haven't let her out of the house since we got her. No, not even for a couple minutes") the tyrant decided she didn't like anyone except her new "parents". One "Grandma" was sent to the hospital thanks to a nasty bite and a challenged immune system while the other stayed at a distance despite the fact almost every animal she'd ever encountered loved her. In no time, Sephie had a reputation amongst our friends and those who decided to ignore our warning - don't touch the black & white cat - were scratched for their trouble. The phrase, "Belly white, flee in fright. Belly black, won't attack" was created by a friend to differentiate Persephone from Morgan (our non-savage cat). Despite drawing some blood from visitors, Sephie has never been deliberately violent with either her "dad" or myself.

Have you noticed the different layers of colour in her pretty green eyes?

Just like the parents of troubled children, we diminish the severity of her behavior and we defend her. "She was stressed over the number of people here. She really is a sweet cat. You don't see how affectionate she is with us." We're totally pussy whipped. She's awarded salmon treats for not rending our arms from our bodies when we clip her nails and if she climbs into the empty bathtub we immediately hop to pouring water down the shower curtain so she can watch it run down the drain. Even the occasional nugget of suspicious pooh outside the litterbox isn't a big deal - she's got a fuzzy bum. Sometimes, ya know, stuff sticks.

Aww, look at those fluffy little pants! Who's got fluffy pants? Yeah, you do!

Does the little beast have some behavioral problems? Sure. Does she need some kitty Prozac? Probably. Do we adore her beyond all comprehension? Damn straight! If you ever happen to come over, just don't touch the black and white cat.