There lives a little cat, white, brown, speckled, and furry warm and soft as they come, yet they find him quite contrary.

For he jumps high and often at sounds too quick or loud or near and runs away from loving hands even those by now, familiar.

Surprise him with company if you want to drive him into hiding whether friendly or well-intended he doesn’t give a rat about your tidings.

But don’t think him a dull soul, his bright eyes couldn’t be mistaken when he aims high for the birds he leaps fearlessly, and lands barely shaken.

Then there are unwitting escapades (that add to an already troubled mind) and plenty more misadventures, harmless but unpleasant, of the gastric kind.