Easter in a doll house in Lourmarin (France)
April 2022, a new short sit in Provence : 1 black cat
I was invited to sit in Lourmarin, a picturesque village in Provence where is buried Albert Camus (winner of the litterature Nobel prize in 1957) to keep Quipu, a 7 years old tall black cat.
I stayed only 5 days in this tiny house : Quipu's owners -a young franco-scottish couple- were living 50 km from my home, in the Luberon area. It was easy for me to drive over there.
Quipu seemed quite shy at first sight. He came and sniffed me, obviously surprised by the smell of my own dog and cats, then he vanished in the olive groves around the lovely doll house we were going to share while his masters were staying in Spain for Easter.
Quipu showed up again in the afternoon : even in early spring, it can be quite hot outside in Provence. Inside it was much cooler.
He was used to hide in a cosy nest on Stéphane and Verity's bed. A routine followed every afternoon and evening. There, he felt protected, safe. There he prefered to take a nap, to sleep at night.
As all felines, he was very curious, attracted by noises outside, always on the alert ("sur le quivive" as we say in french), more concerned by outdoor events than by toys ! He looked at the one I had brought with little interest. Played only a few minutes.
After dinner, Quipu came to my lap while I was writing on my computer, purred loudly : the ice seemed broken.
He meowed and behaved in a way that made me think he might feel some pain : the vet confirmed the following morning he was suffering from an infection, cystisis. Back home after a few lab exams and a final diagnosis, he seemed happy to be free again, he hated to be trapped in a cage on the way to the clinic.
The main problem was to manage to make him eat his new medical croquettes and wet food. He totally refused them ! Disliked this new taste, a main change of food... Managing to make him swallow his liquid medication was a harder challenge... I tried to take him in my arms, to pour the liquid with a seringe in his mouth and got badly scratched ! Another solution had to be found.
I had been warned that Quipu loved to drink from the tap in the bathroom.
Several times a day, he jumped on to the sink, sipped water in the glass left there on purpose for him. If I could watch him drink often, he did not seem to pee much in his litter. I felt concerned. Was it normal ? Did he pee outside or not pee at all ?
This tall black cat, quite heavy (5,5 kilos) was very independent and rather wild. He loved to roll in the dust. Scratching his claws on trunks and chasing insects or lizards, he spent most of the day in the fields around, coming back only to sleep or eat.
Although Quipu protested vigourously when he felt trapped inside, begging to convince me to let him out, meowing for minutes, trying to open the door himself, I remained inflexible after sunset : foxes lived near by, he could be chased himself !
