Last time we heard about this cat her place at home had been usurped by a puppy but she had adapted easily to life as a Princess elsewhere. But… the new owners had already had a couple of shocks adapting to her. Now it was time for their third…  babyboomer humour and animals

Huda picks up the fluffy tale…

We had accepted all The Cat's fussy eating habits, but her vet bill which covered de-fleaing, de-worming, a flu injection, an elegant black collar studded with fake glassy diamonds! and a tag to be inscribed in... Australia, with her name and our phone number was a little unnerving. We did however admit to a feeling of pride when we received the tag few weeks later by mail (from Australia!) addressed to Princess c/o Ghazi Bahjet.

I think I owe the reader an explanation for our choice of her name. It came easily, befitting a cat who could take possession of every comfortable sofa or chair in the house including my computer chair. I have to make do with the few inches she leaves me to sit and type this article. It befits a cat who dictates her exclusive choice of tins of the very finely minced chicken in gravy or jelly; a cat who will eat no-nonsense leftovers of our household, even if it is a home cooked, hot, juicy broiled chicken, or any fridge-kept food of her meals not yet served.  It also befits a cat who carries herself with such pride. She ignores other cats of the neighbours except maybe Chester, an orange mixed Persian, 16-years-old and with a heart problem! He is a character himself, insisting on minced meat only from our butcher. Last but not least, she is a cat who is completely unafraid of dogs (too much for her own good sometimes).

She struck up a very friendly relationship with a small white Terrier whose owner takes him daily for a walk with her toddler to the kindy. They sniff each other lovingly and she rubs herself all around him and performs some provocative tumbles in the driveway. No explanation for that except maybe she was a dog in a previous life. Amira (princess) was the only possible name for a cat with such majestic traits....

Amira has brought laughter, joy and playfulness to our house - and some worries when we leave her behind or when we can't trace her whereabouts late at night. And then there are the early mornings when she wakes us so she can be let out...

We love Amira - but still remember and admire the humility and survival powers of our native cats.