Carolyn Holm

Dear Puffin,
Okay, I have to say, I’m getting annoyed with how often the litter gets kicked out of the litter box.
Love, Carolyn

Cher Madame,
It is not the work of this petit cat. Never. Jamais.  
Regards, M. Le Poufin 

Dear Puffin,
That just leaves one other possibility. 
Love, Carolyn

Cher Madame,
Oui, it is the Winston. This petit cat should not have to share a box with the Winston.
Regards, M. Le Poufin

Dear Puffin,
I too was thinking Winston. He gets so carried away with covering his stuff. 
Love, Carolyn

Cher Madame,
How would Madame know such a thing?????? 
Regards, M. Le Poufin

Dear Puffin,
I know everything, sweetie. 
Love, Carolyn

Cher Madame,
Seriously, Madame. This is very private and personal information. 
Regards, M. Le Poufin

Dear Puffin,
And I’m the one who has to clean up after all that private and personal stuff. 
Love, Carolyn

Cher Madame,
So, Madame knows everything that goes on inside the box? 
Regards, M. Le Poufin

Dear Puffin,
Sure. For example, I know that you are rather careless. 
Love, Carolyn

Cher Madame,
Moi, careless? Mon Dieu, it is the Winston who is the careless cat. 
Regards, M. Le Poufin

Dear Puffin,
No, sweetie, you are, because you simply don’t always bother to cover your, shall we say, product. 
Love, Carolyn

Cher Madame,
How would Madame know such a thing!!!!! Madame must be spying on her petit cats! In their most intimate moments!!!!! 
Regards, M. Le Poufin

Dear Puffin,
And Winston covers his quite zealously. 
Love, Carolyn

Cher Madame,
This is the shocking revelation. How does Madame know who does what? 
Regards, M. Le Poufin

Dear Puffin,
Sweetie, I know that you use the box facing out, and Winston uses the box facing in. 
Love, Carolyn

Cher Madame,
Does Madame have a point she wishes to make? 
Regards, M. Le Poufin

Dear Puffin,
Yes! Because you face out, I know that the stuff in the back of the box is yours. And because Winston faces in, I know that the stuff in the front of the box is his. There you are. 
Love, Carolyn

Cher Madame,
Madame is taking such liberties, a violation of the intimacy of the box. 
Regards, M. Le Poufin

Dear Puffin,
Probably. But anyway, I’ve noticed that your stuff in the back is often just left there for everyone to see. And Winston’s stuff in the front always gets entirely covered. I suspect Winston gets wildly carried away while he’s doing that, and kicks a lot of litter out. 
Love, Carolyn

Cher Madame,
Such a strange and peculiar interest that Madame has. Madame’s conversation must be charming at the cocktail parties. But it just seems wrong to spy on two innocent cats.
Regards, M. Le Poufin

Dear Puffin,
You’ll get over it. And I’ve noticed an interesting scientific correlation. Cats are both predator and prey, but you two represent each end of that spectrum. Winston has always acted more like a prey animal, and you have a strong predator drive. He’s on Team Prey, and you’re on Team Predator. Team Prey covers their stuff so they won’t be discovered, and Team Predator leaves it out to make a point. There we are, both of you acting as examples of predator and prey behavior! 
Love, Carolyn

Cher Madame,
More charming conversation. So Madame should at least show some appreciation for this petit predator, because he does not scatter litter all over the floor in front of the box.
Regards, M. Le Poufin

Dear Puffin,
I should. And appreciation for how complex the politics of litter boxes can be.
Love, Carolyn

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A note to our readers…

Poppy, Winston, and Puffin are looking forward to sharing their weekly correspondence with you! Each week one of them is featured here, all based upon actual conversations. And yes, you can get the week’s post conveniently in your email every Friday by subscribing in the subscriber box at the top of this page. (If you are reading this in an email, go to blog.carolynholm.com to subscribe.) If you have already subscribed, multiple paws are raised to salute you!