Making Friends (Caturday Questions)

Big Cat, Little Cat: Human-Mom’s New Girlfriend

Little Cat has become quite the scholar of human behavior. And his latest observation is that Middle Cat isn’t the only one who gets frisky upon meeting a new person. Making friends happens in different ways for different people. And yes, Human-Mom is like any other cat in that she generally takes a long time to vet a person before she consents to sit on their lap. Which is all to the good.

In any case, Little Cat is preparing the manuscript for his forthcoming monograph on the incredibly important subject of making friends. Too long have these humans been blundering around, trying to make friends with each other, and sparing hardly a thought for the things that really matter. Things that bind a relationship together. Like how warm the prospective friend’s lap is. Or whether they understand the different techniques involved in ear-skritchins, chin-skritchins, and tummy-skritchins.

You can never be too careful when it comes to the things that matter in a relationship. Yes, some will say otherwise. But don’t listen to them. We’re not dogs. We have standards.

Description

Four panels, side by side, each depicting an identical image of two cats reclining side by side on a cushion. The images might be identical, but the two cats could hardly be more distinct. On the left sits a large orange with darker orange stripes. He is gazing sweetly down at his companion as if all is right with the world. On the right is a small grey with darker grey stripes. He is gazing out of the frame with a look on his face that suggests all is not right with the world; and, moreover, any attempt to set one thing to rights will knock something else out of alignment.

Panel 1

Little Cat: I really like Human-Mom’s new Girlfriend.

Panel 2

Big Cat: Wait–since when do you care about Human-Mom’s other relationships?
Little Cat: I just think she’s a really good fit.

Panel 3

Big Cat: Oh… You’re talking about her lap, aren’t you?
Little Cat: And her petting technique! I’m telling you: she’s the one.

Panel 4

Big Cat: Didn’t you say the same thing about Human-Mom’s last girlfriend?
Little Cat: *Sigh. Yeah. She was also the one.