Duchess defends her territory

As recounted before, backyard calico cat Duchess has to have a male escort. Never mind she is no longer in the kitten business, she likes companionship. As such, she and backyard orange tabby Sam are friends. But Sam is a very friendly boy. He'd rather I scratched between his ears and rubbed his back than eat.

So yesterday morning when were completing this little ritual of me being encircled by "starving" cats as I was putting out their food, I was scratching and rubbing Sam as well. He was purring and, since he was quite sure where his next meal was coming from, he was in no hurry to eat. All of a sudden, my hand is tapped. By Duchess! She had had quite enough of my making over "her man", thank you very much. It was time for me to quit! Her claws were sheathed but there was a look of seriousness in her eyes. She seemed to be saying, "Leave him alone, sister!"

And since she's packing heat in the shape of finely honed claws, I did just that. Sam's disappointment didn't last long, as I went inside, and he went to eating beside Duchess.