![\"IMG_0128\"](\"http:\/\/rattlebridge.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/IMG_0128.jpg\" "\\"IMG_0128\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe photo below reminds me of my cat, Emma. About nine years ago, I dug <\/font><\/strong>this little gray kitten from under a wooden barn floor. She was tiny and needed a <\/font><\/strong>home so I adopted her mostly as a companion for the cat love of my life, my Flippo. <\/font><\/strong>Flippo was a rescue kitten that thought he was a big dog. He bonded to me <\/font><\/strong>immediately, did his best to talk, followed me like a dog, and ran to me when <\/font><\/strong>called. My vet was amazed that I, a self avowed dog person, loved a cat as much as <\/font><\/strong>I loved Flippo. So since Flippo was without feline company, Emma became his buddy. Both <\/font><\/strong>of the cats were barn, hay loft, garage cats with laundry room privileges in the winter.<\/font><\/strong><\/p>\n For the cats to be in the house, would be suicide on their part and homicide on <\/font><\/strong>the part of the ruling Cavaliers. When Flippo had to be put down because of a horrible <\/font><\/strong>and very fast growing (two weeks start to finish) mouth cancer, Emma became lonely <\/font><\/strong>but would never accept another cat companion although we tried to install one!<\/font><\/strong><\/p>\n I tried to bring Emma into the house but she would have nothing of it and just <\/font><\/strong>hid from the dogs, hissing the whole time which gave her whereabouts a way. So she lived <\/font><\/strong>in the barn, garage, empty back kennel, and laundry room at night. She constantly followed <\/font><\/strong>me, talking or yelling at me the whole time. So when we left the farm and moved here, Emma <\/font><\/strong>came with us to be the garage and outdoor cat until the next door cat stalked her and beat <\/font><\/strong>her up a couple of times. She then demanded to be in the house and would not take no for an answer <\/font><\/strong>despite my grave misgivings. So we had no choice to bring Emma into the house hoping her <\/font><\/strong>new status did not make her a statistic with all the dogs she had blatantly teased for years.<\/font><\/strong><\/p>\n Not to worry!! With her wicked side swipe, Emma ruled the house and the dogs from day one! <\/font><\/strong>She rules me! She sits beside me wherever I am, begrudgingly lets dogs join us. She sits by my <\/font><\/strong>computer as I type, editorializing with her adept paw. The dogs are afraid to walk around her, <\/font><\/strong>but I do see them curled up together sometimes. She sleeps with me wherever I light, bed or handy <\/font><\/strong>couch. I love her but realize that I, like the dogs, am only her toy and lowly subject!<\/font><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n