Cat Daddy and I returned home on Sunday evening.

Upon arrival we were greeted by the chat-sitteur, who regaled us with tales of Louis Catorze’s almost-exemplary* behaviour during her stay at Le Château. He made a particular impression on her boyfriend, who declared that he’d “never met a cat like this before”. Yup. We know the feeling.

*This was the “almost” bit.

However, Catorze himself was very conspicuous in his absence from the welcoming party, choosing, instead, to sun himself on his outdoor cat plinths (yes, PLINTHS, plural – he fits perfectly well onto one but insists on lying across two pushed together). At one point I glanced outside, we locked eyes AND HE YAWNED AND WENT BACK TO SLEEP.

When we went outside to marvel at how much the garden had grown, we thought the little sod would surely come and say hello then.

Me: “Louis!”

[Silence, tumbleweed, crickets.]

Cat Daddy “Louis!”

Catorze, very feebly: “Mwah.”

Chat-sitteur: “Louis!”

Catorze: “MWAHHHHH!”

Not only did she receive the most rapturous “Mwahhh!” of all of us, but her voice seemed to galvanise him into action and he finally moved his lazy arse in our direction. He let us cuddle him, briefly, then went back to sunbathing on his plinths.

He is not cross with us for leaving him; that would imply that he actually gave a shit. This is just classic Catorze. And it’s also classic CST; the little sod spent so much time outside on the day of our return that he missed the arrival of – and the chance to accost – Lee driving the Fig van from Ocado.

I have another month-and-a-bit at home at him before I return to the company of moody teenagers. At least they will seem very polite in comparison.

Typical: the one time that I attempt to photograph him across both plinths, he squeezes his arse onto one.
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22 responses to “Devinez qui est de retour, encore de retour”

  1. mary mcneil avatar
    mary mcneil

    Goodness those are large plinths. We are glad at least he was there to greet you (no matter how blase) on your return, rather than leaving on Important Cat Business.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. iamthesunking avatar
      iamthesunking

      I think the sunbathing kind of WAS ICB! 🤣🤣🤣

      Like

  2. Penny Cooper avatar
    Penny Cooper

    Oh hahaha I’m so glad you took the picture, by plinths I was imagining a right royal plinth, tall, ornate with a scroll to lay on on the top!!! 😂 Seems like all is back to normal dans la maison! Apologies if my French is rubbish, I did only learn it from 1969 to 1971 and only used it once and not when I was I Paris!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. iamthesunking avatar
      iamthesunking

      Don’t mention the ornate, scrolled plinths! He will start wanting those now!

      Like

      1. Penny Cooper avatar
        Penny Cooper

        Don’t you think he would look maaaahhhveloussss daahhhhling? And indoors… oh I just thought you could get him a rather nice jardiniare for indoors… https:www.simplemost.com Why your cat needs cat stands (well ok it actually says ‘plants need plant stands’ but its the same policy)

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Lou Carreras avatar

    I recognize that look! it’s ” yes? What the hell do you want…can’t a cat have some privacy?”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. iamthesunking avatar
      iamthesunking

      Oh, you’ve received it too, huh? 😬

      Like

  4. Mme Chapeau avatar
    Mme Chapeau

    As Louis is the Sun King, coming back on a Sunday was awfully nice of you.
    As to sunbathing instead of welcoming you, I’m afraid, but it looks utterly normal for a Sun King too.
    ☀️

    Liked by 1 person

    1. iamthesunking avatar
      iamthesunking

      You’re right. The plinths catch all the evening sun so I guess that’s why he was otherwise occupied!

      Like

  5. alicephilippa avatar
    alicephilippa

    You didn’t really expect anything different did you?

    You also know that you’ll never get a photo of him sprawled across both plinths at a time of your choosing. CD on the other hand…

    He does need far superior padding on his plinths. Where are the swans’ down comforters?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. iamthesunking avatar
      iamthesunking

      Stop it! You’ll give him ideas! 😱😱😱

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Kate Crimmins avatar

    Perhaps he was expecting an offering like you would give any other god!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. iamthesunking avatar
      iamthesunking

      He is no god. He is the devil. 😱

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Kate Crimmins avatar

        That’s not what he says.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. iamthesunking avatar
          iamthesunking

          Don’t believe his lies!

          Liked by 1 person

  7. Fat Dormouse avatar

    I just love the way Sa Maj just couldn’t give a shit.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. iamthesunking avatar
      iamthesunking

      Yup. That sums him up. 🙄

      Like

  8. sevencatsandcounting avatar

    Well… I have a slightly different take. I think this is a prime example of Cold Tail, the age old feline tradition of pointedly ignoring the human servants when they return after a prolonged absence. It’s all a question of degree. Consider:

    Me: “Louis!”

    [Silence, tumbleweed, crickets.]
    [Usually Louis gives his second-favorite person a halfhearted “mwah”—his silence indicates that she has been demoted.]

    Cat Daddy “Louis!”

    Catorze, very feebly: “Mwah.”
    [Usually, Louis would come running to his most favored person. Demotion.]

    Chat-sitteur: “Louis!”

    Catorze: “MWAHHHHH!”
    [Promotion to current most favored person.]

    Good news: Louis does care. Bad news: He’s angry and you’re fired.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. iamthesunking avatar
      iamthesunking

      Oh dear! To where have I been demoted? I thought I occupied the lowest possible spot?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. sevencatsandcounting avatar

        One can always go even lower in the estimation of one’s Feline Overlords and Ladies.

        Liked by 1 person

  9. cat9984 avatar

    Wouldn’t want to ruin the royal mystique by appearing to miss his humans. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. iamthesunking avatar
      iamthesunking

      He never misses us when we go! 🤣🤣🤣

      Liked by 1 person

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