Princesses--Little Girl and Female Cat

This little doll is my granddaughter. She loves princesses, loves to play princess AND loves her cat. This most tolerant of all cats has (somewhat) willingly played along with the princess theme--as you can see. Lovely, precious granddaughter called to me the afternoon of this picture: "Grandma, come look at Daph! See! She's a princess!"

And, indeed she was--and is. Lovely princess-cat, or is that cat princess? (Then there's that "Queen" title I almost forgot about) Whichever, Daph has the softest coat of fur you can imagine and, as you can see, she's a beautiful calico. My daughter--mother of the lovely girl child pictured above--said they picked this particular cat at the animal shelter because she reminded her of the cat our family had when she was a lovely, young girl herself. I remember that cat, Cali, treating my daughter as if she were one of her kittens. (I never figured out why since my daughter could, of course pick Cali up and well, you know the size difference in humans and cats being what it is and all). Nonetheless, Cali would call my daughter to follow her with the same maternal cry (and patience, I might add) she gave her own baby kittens when she wanted them to follow her. And, she'd also attack any dog that wandered into the yard if my daughter was outside. (The same dog could come eat out of Cali's food bowl otherwise without any trouble--but let my daughter be in the yard! Dog was on notice, at the least, or under attack!)

Daph has treated precious granddaughter in an even more motherly fashion. I remember my daughter telling me multiple times that if her little one (during her early baby days) was wailing for whatever reason--like not wanting her diaper changed--Daph would go into super-defence mode, meow pitifully, and exert all possible energy to come to her aid. The cat's obvious intent was to protect the baby as if her life were endangered!

Animals are most entertaining and comforting to those of us who've been blessed to have them for companions. Here's to Daph! She's been to the vet earlier today and is suffering with an infection. Get better soon, sweet cat! You've been a great blessing to the family who loves you.