Karnak Street Kats

Shackleton is a young male cat I raised from the time he was ten days old. (You can learn about his arrival here.) He is a golden tabby with white feet and white face and eyes that match his lightest amber hue. While he is not large, he has a fierce spirit and insists on periodic forays outside. However, his favorite pastime is enjoyed indoors.

Shackleton loves to make the females cry or scream or hiss or wail. One of his favorite targets is Daisy, an older black and white female. He waits until Daisy is sleeping peacefully, then attacks. He does no real damage, only startling her, which elicits ear-shattering screams from Daisy. You can almost see the smile on Shackleton's face.

His other target is Miss Kitty, an older orange tabby. Her owner is in jail, so she is living with me for the interim. Shackleton makes sure that Miss Kitty knows that he is stalking her. She begins to wail as soon as she sees him. Her wails increase as he edges nearer. The sound reaches a crescendo as he darts toward her only to retreat. This may go on for several minutes until Shackleton grows weary of the game.

Shackleton does have an uncanny ability to choose to play his game when I am on the phone. With cat screams bouncing off the walls, it is difficult to carry on a conversation. Besides, I usually have to explain that no cat is being murdered, that Shackleton is just annoying one of his housemates.

Yes, I do scold him, put him in another room, etc. He can be detered for the moment, but all too soon he will have a victim in sight. He will once more be engaged in his favorite recreational activity.