The Secret Life Of Albert


I caught him watching the Ukrainian village very carefully this morning
He was following the rounds of Thor, the oversized but gentle cockerel who is leader of team poultry.
Albert's world is small for it covers two or perhaps three acres of land, but he seems content with his lot of three Gardens, one Churchyard, a bit of scrubland and one lane, areas he patrols at least eight times in one 24 hour period.
He is a good humoured but physically distant cat. He's  not a lap sitter, and has never to my knowledge demanded a cuddle, but he does adore Winnie and can be found often pulling at her fat face- folds of flesh with gentle sheathed paws as they lay nose to nose on the floor.
The bulldog accepts his friendliness with a quiet acquiescence, not typical of the canine race.

He sleeps often, and seldom makes a noise about the house.
He is a shadow...that would always be missed if absent 

59 comments:

  1. I had a cat named Bob- a manx- who did patrols. He was a bit like you describe Albert- not a lap cat but a working cat, seemingly intent on keeping the borders safe and clear for our family. Even after he went almost blind, he made his rounds daily. I miss him.

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  2. Finally an Albert post.

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    1. He often gets lost with the canine shenagigains

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  3. At last; a post about my favorite of all animals...

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  4. Dogs are fabulous but a Cat ... well, cats are cats, totally different Universe ..
    When my husband died suddenly, I was sure I would go insane from the silence in the house .. being the only living creature in a large house in the middle of nowhere .. I adopted this tiny blue kitten.
    She has never gotten that big but she now rules "Merlin" the old boy that I adopted when I saw his face online. Who would want an 11 year old cat ?? I did. And then my mom died and I inherited Honey. The biggest, heaviest cat I have ever seen/or tried to pick up ... with a tiny little girl cat meow.
    Merlin is the old one, though I adore Minette, love Honey, Merlin has my heart. He has to live forever, I can't deal with any more loss.

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    1. I wish you many, many years with the company of those saviour cats and may you not have to bear any more bereavements. In the meantime, have a big (((((((HUG))))))) xx

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    2. Thank you so much Rambler :) Hugs gladly accepted <3

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  5. Anonymous3:10 pm

    How very poetic, John: "He is a shadow ... that would always be missed if absent". Indeed. So very fond of Albert, may he "sleep often" and wake up to chase another day.

    U

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    1. ......and rip the head from another innocent rabbit.......

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    2. LOL ... sounds like a horror movie from the 70s ..

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  6. His emotional distance sounds exactly like my Noodles, also not a lap-lover, and gives a distressed miaow whenever I have to pick him up. Only purrs when I'm giving him food, never for my company which is always there for him should he want it, though he never does.
    That said, I still love him, though I'd really appreciate some positive response now and again.

    But Albert's close kinship with Winnie is always a pleasure to read about - and it's fascinating.

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    1. And Raymondo...its real! I hope you have watched the many videos i have taken of the pair? Its very moving to watch

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    2. I've certainly seen any videos you've posted on this blog, J.G., though there haven't been very 'many' of them. I wonder if there are some more elsewhere. If so, I do so want to see them too.

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  7. I am so grateful that you posted about Albert. I just posted about how we had to make a decision regarding our cat. Do we pay for surgery or do we have him put to sleep. We decided to pay for it and he is home and happy now and I know we made the right decision. He, like Albert, is not a lap cat even though I really try to make him into one. He would rather be outside than in, and it was being an outside cat that almost killed him.
    I love the picture you posted of Albert watching over his world. -Jenn

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    1. He watches everything...and sees all

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    2. coffeontheporch .. I am so glad that you made that decision. Someone told me once they regretted the decision they made and it took a long time to get past it.
      I hope never to have to make one of them.

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  8. Sweet Albert. And that picture at the top is beautiful. Don't ever take that view for granted.

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  9. Did you hear the 'guess what I am' bit of I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue? Two of them were meant to be cats, and the other two asked them questions. They answered by saying things like, "Are you talking to us?"

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    1. Call a dog and it comes, call a cat and it will take a message and get back to you.

      Dogs have owners, acts have servants.

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    2. Have you seen the youtube video of sytdents acting as a cat and dog? The " dog" student was all " let me help, let me see" the cat was silent and just walked over his owner..very funny

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    3. I will google it now :)

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    4. I googled, I watched, I laughed.

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  10. What goes on inside a cat's head? It's hard to tell but I don't think it's all about food, warmth and reproduction.

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    1. And ENEMY , there is a local feral cat that often attacks him when hes dog free

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  11. Nice. He is my favorite character next to you and Chris. I always love to hear how his day is. lol Give him a hug for me even if he hates it. Deb

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  12. Winnie has such a lovely nature, the good humoured Albert knows it, and this bondage between the two is so very sweet.
    Greetings Maria x

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  13. Your view is like a beautiful painting, and you've made a nice capture there with Albert in the foreground! Perhaps you could entice Albert to be a lap cat by getting him a piece of velveteen material; lay it first on the couch or wherever he usually sleeps, then gradually move it until it's on your lap. I imagine Winnie's face to feel like that although maybe it's not.

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    1. He will sleep on our bed but only if one of the dogs is on it...he will never be a lap cat

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  14. This is the best !
    My Scotty Watson used to get up several times a night and patrol the house. As I lay very quiet I could hear him moving very quietly. The only time he slowed down was when he became deaf and almost blind. But if he did wake (he slept with me) he went on his rounds.
    My friend and daughter were here on a visit and as they were sleeping she heard Watson come in sniff and pause at the beds then walk out again.
    This wonderful story of Albert made me tear up for him, Winnie and sweet Watson.

    cheers, parsnip

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  15. Our cat patrols hes old with kidney problems so have got him a jacket with "security " on it for his rounds.

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  16. He is also the bringer of gifts to your cottage....partially eaten it is true but still....gifts.

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  17. I love Albert. How old is he?

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    1. He's just over 8 , he came from a local animal rescue after he was the only survivor from a litter who was killed on the road ,
      He has survived numerous dogs

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    2. That's sad about the other kittens. Long live Albert!

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  18. Cats make their own rules. About laps and most everything else.
    Love an Albert post. And our Jazz (who looks like him) is sleeping beside me.

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  19. Looks like he is surveying his kingdom.

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  20. Our Bramble is a shadow; sixteen years old - black like velvet coat & spends his days with a lovely retired couple over the road only coming home to eat twice a day or if they go away. It's a good set up for us all as we all love him.

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  21. How did Albert and Mary get along when she was a puppy? Did Albert have to put her in her place a few times?

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    1. Oh yes
      !!!!
      Have a look at the archive!

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  22. Albert is pretty normal I would say. I think he's cool.

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  23. I would frame this picture; it seems the essence of Albert. Sadly, John, I think there is not room over there for an American barn.

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  24. I don't think you ever own a cat John...I think they decide if they want to stay...Albert looks very content.

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  25. His place in your heart is made clear by the poetic way you describe him

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  26. I love Albert's view there, it helps me place your home and the village better in my mind. There is nothing so cosy as a contented cat about the place, even if they aren't snugglers. My current boy is a snuggler and I must say it takes a chunk our of my crochet time since he insists on sitting on my chest, but hey, it is worth it. :)

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  27. My in-laws cat is not a lap-sitter. I try to make him one though

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  28. My grandmother always said of a contented cat that "you can hang the moon by him." That's Albert, always on duty. I admire that.

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  29. Aww, the stories Albert could tell. I am so glad Winnie and Albert are close. Even the allusive and distant, need a place to call home where love abounds for humans and animals of all sorts.

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  30. Nice to see Albert. I have mentioned to you before that although the entire furry family has a bit of my heart Winnie and Albert have the rest. I miss Colette more than I can tell. She was demanding, if she wanted me to go to bed she will walk on my desk and lay there, her whole body across my laptop. She was bossy, and loving and could pushed you out of the bed if she had a whim to do it. Now McKenzie and Aliah are so much the bosses that I don't dare to bring a cat home, although Leos are supposed to have cats. Hmmm...

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  31. I LOVE Albert posts. He is one of my favorites on this blog.

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  32. He's a good fellow if he adores the wonderful Winnie.

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  33. It's amazing how content cats can be with a seemingly small domain!

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  34. I love all your crew but, Albert is the bomb.

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  35. Demon Puss patrols the house and must always know where my sister Wendy is.
    She loves my sis and slaps me. Darn cat.

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  36. Demon Puss patrols the house and must always know where my sister Wendy is.
    She loves my sis and slaps me. Darn cat.

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  37. OOOOH! Your Christmas Cactus is getting ready to bloom! Mine too in Florida!

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