It’s quite an interesting fact that Siamese cats seem to darken as they grow, and my cat, Xiaohu, is no exception. Now at the age of twelve, he’s still full of energy. He lives with my grandma, and he’s a male cat. When he first came to our home, he was just a tiny white kitten, so small that my mom brought him in a cardboard box. Right from the start, he showed no signs of being afraid of new surroundings.
However, as the years went by, he gradually turned darker and darker. It’s as if he’s absorbing all the secrets of time and displaying them through his changing coat. Xiaohu is quite picky about his food. He’s extremely selective and will definitely not eat anything that doesn’t suit his taste. His preference lies solely in fish – related foods. When it comes to cat food, he turns his nose up at chicken – flavored ones and only goes for the fish – flavored variety. He’s also very fond of cat sauce and has a special liking for ham sausages. But at that time, I wasn’t aware that cats shouldn’t be fed too many ham sausages.
In his younger days, Xiaohu was incredibly lively. He would jump around everywhere, and his favorite pastimes included leaping onto the top of the refrigerator and cabinets. His jumping ability was truly remarkable. I suspect he did this because those places were cooler. He also liked to hide behind the TV and on top of the radiator. He seemed to have a knack for finding the coziest and most interesting spots in the house.
One of his most well – known “habits” is his love for scratching the sofa. This behavior has been a constant source of trouble. It’s so important that I have to emphasize it three times: he really, really loves scratching the sofa! Because of this, he often gets scolded by my grandma. But he’s also very clever. Whenever my grandma points at him and starts a “conversation” while calling his name, Xiaohu, he knows exactly what he’s done wrong. He quickly tries to escape, scurrying away as fast as he can. To prevent further damage to the sofa, we have to trim his nails regularly.
Another rather “unique” behavior of Xiaohu’s is his penchant for biting my arm. Again, this is something that needs to be repeated three times: he really, really likes biting my arm! As an unneutered male cat, whenever I pet him and get too close, he would suddenly roll over, grab my arm, and start biting. At first, he was a bit more reserved and would only bite my sleeve. But as time went on, his true nature emerged, and he started biting my skin directly. It really hurts! He acts just like an over – excited Teddy dog when in heat. He holds onto my arm tightly with his paws and kicks at me. Even if I lift my arm up, he refuses to let go, clinging on for dear life. In those situations, I have to use my hand to gently pry open his front teeth to free myself. And although I scold him afterwards, it seems to have little effect. But one thing is for sure, his fur is extremely smooth, and petting him is an absolute delight. His soft, warm body and the way he nuzzles his head against me are incredibly comforting.
Xiaohu has a unique trait of loving baths and being very clean. Most cats are not too keen on water, but Xiaohu is different. We usually give him a bath once or twice a month. When he was younger, he was quite reluctant. We had to gently place him in a small basin, the kind used for bathing babies. But as he got used to it, he started to enjoy the process and would cooperate. After each bath, my grandma makes sure to clean him thoroughly with a warm – air hairdryer, from head to toe. Xiaohu also has his own way of maintaining cleanliness. After a bath, he uses his tongue to lick his body all over, scratching and shaking to make himself feel fresh. It seems he believes his tongue is the cleanest thing. But beware, never touch a cat’s tongue. Its rough texture can even scratch off your body hair, and it really stings. I can attest to this from personal experience.
Contrary to what many people say about Siamese cats, Xiaohu is not exactly afraid of strangers, but he is rather aloof. He simply ignores those he doesn’t know well. However, when it comes to familiar faces, he becomes extremely affectionate and naughty. He loves to sleep on the bed and often sneaks onto the bed at night. Cats generally have a different sleep schedule from humans, and it’s quite common to wake up in the morning and find an extra “companion” at the foot of the bed. Sometimes, in our half – asleep state, we might accidentally kick him off, which always brings a bit of laughter to the morning.
Over the past twelve years, Xiaohu has brought countless joys and unforgettable memories to our family. His every little action, whether it’s his naughty antics or his affectionate gestures, has become an integral part of our lives. We look forward to many more years with this beloved feline friend, sharing our days and creating more precious moments together.
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