WCB- Harmon El Gato

Harmon is in the spotlight today. Bustopher tends to grab a lot of attention because he is really needy and tells you that all the time, but Harmon is so laid back and easy going, he tends to get lost in the shuffle. He will be 14 this year and has had some health issues, the worst being that his back is not so good due to his weight. I have had to consider, as his age advances, what it will be like when he leaves me, and the thought is unbearable. I have had him since he was 4 months old and we have been through the ringer and back many times. He’s the best lap cat, jumping in to settle down with me no matter what I am doing, and purrs like a jet engine if you even just look at him and say his name. He is unconditional love wrapped thickly in exquisitely beautiful fur that I just love to stroke, smooth and tickle. I adore him and the feeling is clearly mutual. When he turns his big fuzzy tummy up to me for a scratch, I am a goner.

If Harmon was human, he would be a total chowhound. And at 18 pounds, he is a chowcat that is not at all shy about food. He likes people food, which he doesn’t get much of besides a taste here and there, but ya gotta love his perseverance. Any time something is going on in the kitchen, he will come wandering in sleepily to check out the action. And if it smells good, or it’s tuna, he lets you know in big, raucous meows, along with being underfoot and getting stepped on which rarely phases him at all. He cleans the floor, watches your every move and occasionally taps you on the leg in case you may have forgotten he was there.

Then when I sit down to eat, he is right there, clinging to my leg with his huge expressive eyes fixed closely on my every move.

On this morning, he was really intrigued by my bowl of oatmeal and wanted to taste it badly. I made the mistake of hauling him up on my lap before I was done. I won’t make that mistake again. Perseverance is definitely his middle name.

Even though he didn’t get a taste of the oatmeal, he did get a major ear rub from Mike, which, if you’re a cat, could be considered way better than food in some cases.

Lisa at Champaign Taste is hosting Weekend Cat Blogging this weekend. Go check out the cat shenanigans and kitty-wampus activity when you get a chance!

We are slowly uncovering ourselves after a foot and a half of snow was dumped on us between Wednesday and Friday. On top of the 13″ we got last week, we are deep in a winter wonderland. More oatmeal, I say! And Harmon will likely be right there with me.