Kavita EzekielWe are having oats for breakfast, but our black-and-white tuxedo cat has ordered cheese spread and toast from the à la carte menu, which has only two items on it. Oats and cheese spread and toast.
His unexplained acquired taste for this food has amused us and brought cheer to our day, while the world around us grows increasingly chaotic and tragic. Pitufo, that’s his name, which means ‘smurf’ in Spanish, leaves the oats in the bowl untouched but indicates his preference with his eyes and a sideways tilt of his head. He does not meow but places his paw on my husband’s shoulder if his request is delayed. He has a standing order at the breakfast table. He is served first, before everyone else. Pitufo’s insistence is quiet, but firm – like someone who is a preferred customer, well-known to the food establishment in our home. My spouse cuts the toast into small pieces and offers it to him on the palm of his hand. That is the only way he will accept it.
Champion Oats was a famous brand of oats growing up in Bombay. The cat is a champion of peace. I have a few friends with cats but none of them have cats with this kind of breakfast menu. They too are amused by our story.
At the local animal shelter where my spouse had gone to adopt a cat as a companion since our tabby Timber was feeling lonely, he first encountered Pitufo. Another client was considering adopting him but said he felt he was too rambunctious for him. He moved away and my spouse locked eyes with Pitufo. He looked at him with the same tilt of the head and keen eyes as he did when he wanted his breakfast. It was an immediate choice. He brought the two-week-old little kitten with a red bow tied across his neck. We fell in love with him instantly, rambunctiousness and all!
breakfast oats
the cat like the mouse
prefers the cheese.
