The Chameleon

My cat Godiva is a chameleon. We have always laughed at her ability to take on mannerisms of another animal. Her best imitation is that of an otter. She loves to lie on her back with her feet tucked up over her and looks just like an otter floating in the sea. The only thing she lacks is a clam shell and a rock on her belly.

She also sometimes sounds like other animals. She has been known to give a "woof" out of the blue. She has a snore that could, on occasion, rival my husbands but most of the time is soft and gentle. When she was younger, she did a great meercat imitation. Upon hearing unknown sounds, she would stand up on her hind legs and glance around, just like a National Geographic special of meercats. She doesn't do this one very much anymore but since we have been traveling, she has done it a few times.

Her squid imitation is particularly effective. A squid squirts out a trail of ink when trying to disappear from danger. The premise is that a predator cannot find the squid in the ink. Godiva just releases a huge wad of fur. It is difficult to find her through all the fur because you now have it all in your face and are busy trying to get it out of your face and nose and she's gone.

Finally, she has a tremendous ability to imitate a Tasmanian Devil. She keeps this evil being in check and it only comes out at the vet's office. Then she turns into a snarling, scratching, growling devil. Otherwise, she is my sweet little baboo. She has other animals that she imitates as well but they only come out occasionally, for instance, her whiskers curve in around her mouth like a walrus. She's a delight in watching the different mannerisms pop out. Every once in a while, a new one pops up but we have been watching her now for over 7 years so I think we have seen most of her imitations. What a ham.