Carolyn Holm

Dear Mom,
What happened last night?????????
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
You mean the cats. Yes, that was a lot of drama last night.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
They were unhinged! They were crazy! They were hissing and yowling at each other! 
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
It was an all-out war, wasn’t it! I’d never seen Winston stand up to Puffin like that. I didn’t see the incident that set it off, but suddenly there they were, face to face, about three feet apart, and Winston aggressively yowling at Puffin! Then they were both hissing and yowling at each other. And when I went to pick Winston up he rolled over with teeth bared and claws out, yowling and hissing at me! Until he realized it was me, and then he was glad to be comforted on my lap.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
But I couldn’t tell what they were fighting about!!!!!!! It was so scary!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
It was scary, wasn’t it! I’m guessing Puffin was in an angry mood, and he made some kind of bullying swipe at Winston, and Winston realized he’s as big as Puffin is, and it was time to stand up to this bully. 
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
But what on earth happened to make them so angry??????? They were fine yesterday until they came back from the visit to the vet.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
I think it was the stress of that visit that set them off. Puffin doesn’t like going to the vet, but at least he is used to it. But for Winston, it was all new. Being stuffed into the carrier, the bumpy car ride while he cried the entire way, and then the handoff in the parking lot. It was a lot to deal with.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
That handoff horrified him. He says he thought you were giving him away.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
I would never do that! NEVER. You all know that, right?
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
That’s a relief. Winston definitely needed to know that. He couldn’t understand why you would give him away.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Poor Winston. I don’t blame him for being horrified. Sadly it’s the pandemic procedure now. You were there recently, you know the drill. I have to wait in the car while the vet tech person comes out to collect you and bring you inside for the exam. Poor Winston. The handoff to complete strangers, then being handled by them, and given a shot – imagine how that must have seemed to him. The last time he went to the vet he was a four-pound infant, and I’m sure he doesn’t remember a thing about it. He hasn’t been out of our house since!
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Well, they were both pretty upset. When you got home and let them out of their carriers, Puffin stalked off looking like he’d like to stab someone, and Winston dashed off to hide under the guest room bed. Next thing we know, they are at each other. I didn’t know what to think!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
You handled it very well. I appreciated your restraint. Meanwhile I had no idea what to do with them. It was so upsetting! They were completely off the rails. So much hostility! This was anger, pure and simple. About that trip to the vet. I spent the whole evening trying to keep them apart and calm them down.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
I could tell you were upset.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
I’m sure you could. Wasn’t it a relief this morning when they were back to normal? As if nothing had ever happened. 
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Cats.
XOXO Poppy

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