The Cat-Slap

My cat is very sweet,

    with soft paws, he greets.

He’s patient for his meals,

    and complains not about how he feels.

He loves to cuddle

    but also loves a dive into shallow puddles.

And shake the water off as near to me

    as he can be.

He loves to have a pet

    and, eager he is, to get

    as many as my old hands can provide,

    which seems to cause his purring never to subside.

He loves some cheese.

And has been known to seize

    a broccoli spear or corn cob

    from a plate accessible to rob.

If cats can smile,

    for sure he does beguile.

At night he sleeps right by my side,

    and tightens sheet and blanket, wherever he chooses to abide.

He doesn’t mind if I snore,

    or that sometimes my stories are quite the bore.

He doesn’t bite.

And very little causes him to fright.

He brings treasures of bird or mouse,

    to the kitchen-floor in my little house.

Of course I wince, am sad and feel alarm

    but he’s a hunter with a certain charm.

I cannot change him if I would

    though I know for nature, better if I should.

I would much prefer for him to stay

     inside but his soul, his spirit would decay.

He’s a very simple cat without a frill;

     a little milk in moderation: winter warm and summer chill.

He’s truly my delight.

I worry so when he’s out of sight.

But there is one thing,

    that to your attention I must bring.

When pets, or kneading, hanging out, or sitting on your lap are done

    or more precisely he’s had enough,

    he offers quite strongly and squarely a cat-slap, rather rough.

No claws, no teeth, just a solid strike on arm or finger,

    to let you know he will not linger.

He can slap and wap and then depart,

    before you completely jump and start.

He’s made his point as to who’s the boss.

    which love and time dare not cross.

I use to feel hurt and surely some concern!

But now to my surprise, I’ve learned.

And realize quite precisely, he doesn’t have another way to say …

Stop! Save some love for another day!

I love my kitty dear.

And always want him near,

But I’ve learned to respect his space,

    and that look upon his face

    that tells me very soon, there’ll be a heavy tap

    when he provides his awesome kitty slap.