0 In Cat Mama Series

Cat Mama Series: Eliot the 10-year-old Lilac Point Siamese

This adorable post about Eliot the cat is written By Terri Markle from Female Solo Trek

You may think me Mad as a Hatter but I think my Eliot (a 10-year-old lilac point Siamese) may be part rabbit.

His white fur feels like angora as he presses into the side of my arm each morning (noon or night) whenever I lay down on “our” bed. If he could glue himself to me, he would do so willing. His soft lavender nose wiggles when he looks up into my eyes.

Eliot is named after the poet T. S. Eliot. I chose his name because I was enrolled in my Masters in Writing at Johns Hopkins University at the time.

Eliot’s “Naming of Cats” poem reminds us that:

“a cat needs a name that’s particular,
A name that’s peculiar, and more dignified,
Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?”

This cat has THREE DIFFERENT NAMES—per the poet’s admonition. His family name is Ellie (Sweet Ellie when he purrs). His particular name is T. S. Eliot as he is a deeply creative soul. And while he won’t tell me his secret name, I believe his “ineffable effable Effanineffable Deep and inscrutable singular name” is BUNNY BOY.

Shall I share with you all the ways that Eliot is brave and true? This poor lad lost his brother Danny (aka Dante) whenhe was only 5 years old due to a urinary infection. Eliot and I were devastated. We spent many weeks crying and mourning our chocolate point Siamese boy.

Eliot decided that he could learn to be an only cat and take care of his Cat Mom on his own. But my adult son and daughter decided I needed to adopt a new Siamese kitten from Sandy Points (a Siamese breeder in Pennsylvania) to keep us both company.

And this is how my Eliot became a big brother to a rambunctious kitten named Henry David Thoreau on March 18, 2017. Henry’s “ Gotcha Day” will go down in infamy. Poor Eliot never had a day of rest again.

Eliot’s favourite chores in life are to lay in my lap while I work at home. My office chair is quite small so Eliot must put his claws into my lap to stay put. But he is dogged in helping me write my articles.

He also helps to set the breakfast table by meowing insistently at 5 a.m. that it is time to climb out of bed to feed my poor deserving cats.

Eliot is a great chef in the kitchen. He gets up to circle the counter whenever I pull the can opener from the cabinet.

He loves doing puzzles with me. When I am struggling to find an elusive piece, he will gladly push all the pieces off the end table.

Always Zen, Eliot practices his mindful meditation every day—whether from his massaging pillow, Cat House pillow or bed.

He hopped into my heart over a decade ago. I don’t ever want to let my Bunny Boy go.

Author’s note

Since I was 24 years old, I have been “owned” by Siamese cats. I frequently write about meeting street cats on my travels in Europe and Mexico. I also regularly bring my Siamese cats on my U.S. Road Trips. For advice on car travel with your felines, please read my Traveling Cat On The Road Again post.

You can also find Terri on Pinterest!