He Loves That Dog

For anyone who reads my blog regularly or has met Gus in person, you know one very important thing about him--he's cute, but he's crabby.  Gus is the cat of my heart, which is probably a good thing, since he's the one who gave me osteomyelitis.  Granted, that was totally his fault, but still, it kind of fits his personality.

Gus is adorable, which makes you want to cuddle and snuggle with him.  This assumption would be a big mistake.  Gus is capable of being cuddly, but most definitely only under his own terms.  (As is typically the case with any cat, but with Gus, the stakes are much higher)  Gus is most friendly when he is (a) hungry or (b) asleep.  The second one is most ideal because it is also the moment in time when he is least sharp, i.e. less dangerous, so I often take advantage of his sleep-induced cat coma to kiss and snuggle him.  And also to sniff his breath.  Is that weird?

Gus also isn't much of a lap sitter.  You certainly can't pick him up and put him on your lap and expect him to stay.  What you can expect is a growl, maybe a hiss, and almost certainly a claw or two.  So, basically, never pick Gus up.  Though we do.  Usually when we're feeling sassy.  It's kind of like gambling with your life though, so when you pick him up, you get this rush of adrenaline, because anything can happen--maybe you'll make it out alive, and maybe you won't, but in that moment you feel so ALIVE!  Okay, it's not quite that bad, but still, picking him up is a risk.

About once a day, Gus does get the urge for lap time.  It's a huge coup for whoever gets him.  You can actually pet him and stuff, and he stays for, like, a really long time.  So when Jim and I are on the couch, and we see him walk by, we both make our laps as cat-ready and appealing as possible, and then we mock whoever doesn't get the cat.  Because, you know, we're supportive of each other and stuff. 

The other night, we had a friend over for dinner (and to try to finish watching this miniseries we had started--do you know how hard it is to schedule time to watch an 8-hour miniseries with someone you don't live with--we're dying to finish it, and it seems like we'll never be done!).  Gus came into the room and immediately walked over to snuggle with Indiana.  That's how he rolls--the dog is his best friend.  Our friend saw it and made the most accurate, spot-on observation of Gus: "Awwww.  He hates the world, but he loves that dog."  And indeed he does.