Adorable or adored?

Today, I received some feedback from my website that struck a chord, but not in the way in which it was intended. It described Dotty, the Salty Sea Cat as ‘adorable’. Of course, on a good day, she will humour me with a ‘High Five’; rub against me, purring solicitously while doing so; and actively seek out my company. However, on the majority of days (and nights) she acts like the Queen of Sheba, demanding to be ‘adored’ rather than being adorable. This is borne out by how her need to be in my company, is secondary to her desire to show me that she is vastly superior and firmly in charge. She makes this point by positioning herself above me while I am working in the office, occupying either the top of the printer, or a high shelf. When the moon is full and the calls of owls, foxes and small scurrying creatures prove too much to resist, she sets about waking her doorman, or in this case, doorwoman. Her first attempts involve finding which part of my body is most accessible. This will usually be an elbow or a toe that has crept from the sanctuary of the duvet cover. The first assault does not involve claws, but a gentle pat from a soft paw. Having failed, the next attack is more concerted, as she brings out the big guns, or rather sharp claws. By now, I am usually awake, but attempt to ignore her, in the hope that she will settle down again. As she lands on the bed with the force of a Sumo wrestler felling an opponent, I realise that sleep has ceased to be an option. Finally, the ‘Wall of Death’ scampering along the landing, in and out of bedrooms and up and down the stairs, force me from my warm bed and I reluctantly return her to the wild. In my latest book, when Grandma visits Molly Plant, their exchange says it all: Molly asks, ‘ “Have you brought your wild cat with you?” … Grandma answered as any well-brought up child of the nineteen fifties would have done, “Yes, Mrs Plant. She is with me, but I have left her in the car, as not everyone likes cats.” “Bring her in,” the old lady smiled, “I could not imagine anyone taking a dislike to your cat. Although I think if I was three feet smaller and she was three feet taller, she would have me for breakfast!” ’ Enough said.