Cat Mornings

Sleep gradually recedes, the light from the morning skies seeping into my consciousness.

It’s quiet. The faint whirring of the bedroom fan, the sound of soft rain on the window. All is peaceful.

I’m gradually aware of a warm, soft body next to me, and it’s not my husband. Freya has wriggled into the gap between us and is wedged in by my pillow, right next to my face, all big eyes and whiskers. She is pleased with herself.

She starts to purr as she becomes aware of my waking, and I feel a rough little tongue rasping the tip of my nose. I am being licked awake. It’s not an especially pleasant sensation. It’s followed by her sitting up and patting my face gently with her paws, then when no response is elicited, nudging me more pointedly with her nose.

I know that she wants up and feeding, but it’s only 5am and so I resist. I close my eyes and pretend to go back to sleep, slowing my breathing and relaxing back under the covers. This infuriates her. A trill of annoyance, and I know that claws will make an appearance soon.

Fergus scrambles up the bed and manoeuvres his way across the quilt through the tangle of limbs. He starts washing Freya, pinning her down with his paws and vigorously licking her ears. She’s not impressed, and soon this has descended into a full scale cat fight, limbs flailing, ears bitten, back paws kicking out, writhing and scrapping like ferrets in a bag.

It’s only 5am. They’re unceremoniously ejected from the bed, only to continue on the floor. Realising that sleep will not have a chance to return I pad out to the bathroom. But no peace will be found here, dear reader.

Freya senses the chance for her favourite early morning game and as soon as the bathroom door opens a crack as I exit, she streaks in and heads straight for the open panelling on the wall. It’s not finished yet, so we try to keep the cats out of this room.

Straight into the cavity behind the toilet cistern she goes, purring with satisfaction that she’s eluded me. She will only emerge triumphantly after a good few minutes, to be snatched up and taken out onto the landing, still purring in pleasure at her success. This game is repeated every time one of us goes to the bathroom.

By this time I’m fully awake and going back to sleep seems impossible.

I may as well get up.