Klingons on the Starboard Bow

One of my favourite terms is 'Klingon'.  We used to use it in our nightclub days to describe that particular breed of men that just won't leave you alone.  You know the ones - they try and buy you a drink, ask you to dance, follow you around - cling on to you and your group like you are the only life jacket in a stormy sea of desperation.

Manu of the deep, staring brown eyes

Now we use this term in our house to describe our needy pets.  My ever-suffering husband's Klingon is Manu.  Sometimes he is my Klingon, but mostly he is Shawn's. 

For those that don't know, Manu didn't join our family until he was about one and a half years old.  He came to us with some unknown (to us) behavioural issues and an incredible sense of insecurity. 

From what we can tell, he was not socialised well, had issues with men and was petrified of everything.  Worrying took up most of his time.  With lots of time, patience and love, we taught him (and us) to react to things differently.  If anyone raises their voice around Manu, he immediately retreats into a corner of the house and requires quite a bit of coaxing to come out.  This can be a problem as Chamois has responds to any type of discipline with disdain and does what she pleases. She gets yelled at a lot.  And of course we have cats and they are always being naughty, so they get yelled at a lot (with the same response as Chamois).  Poor Manu, he is a sensitive soul.

Please pet me and love me forever

Manu's confidence has grown in leaps and bounds over the years.  He has an insatiable curiousity for anything new and his beautiful face and soft brown eyes are more often than not full of smiles.  Of course, all of this confidence builds loyalty, and Manu is possibly the most loyal pet we have ever had.  But that loyalty comes at a price, and the price is that 90% of the time, if allowed, there is a large yellow dog attached to your hip.  If he is not by your side and under your hand, he is right outside that toilet door, waiting for you to exit and fill his soul with love.  He is a very, very large dog with a very large presence and very short apron strings.

While Shawn is blessed with his Klingon, I have mine, and funnily, enough, it's in the form of a cat (shocking, I know).  A lot of people think that cats are aloof and can take you or leave you, but I've never believed that.  Purrkins is the cat that proves that theory wrong.

If I am petting the dogs or rubbing Clawde's belly, my ears will soon detect a throaty meow and suddenly there is one fat grey cat rubbing my legs.  His purr will gets a squeak, like a rusty old wheel that needs some grease, when he is particularly happy.  For Purrkins it is never a vindictive jealousy, just a need to be included and be by my side.

My Klingon tricking me into thinking he's not an asshole

My Klingon also seems to delight in cleaning the house with me - I can't even do that alone.  The minute he knows that I'm cleaning bathrooms, he will sit at the door (if he's outside) and yowl until I let him in.  Then it's all rainbows and happiness as he rubs and purrs, purrs and rubs.  His joy is often so great at the prospect of me cleaning toilets that he jumps into a speedy run and skid around the corner of the room, tail straight as an arrow, saying 'Come catch me!'.  And I do - it works every time.  Seriously, cleaning toilets or playing tag with your cat, the choice is obvious!  Needless to say, housework takes longer than it should, but is much more fun that it used to be.

Purrkins' Klingon-ness (yes, I know that's not a word) is lovely though, because he loves to cuddle.  Whether I'm in bed or sitting at the kitchen bench waiting for dinner to cook, Purrkins is there, curled up in a ball on my lap, purring away with his feet pumping away making 'happy feet'.  He will often purr louder, look up at me while staring deeply into my eyes (just like Manu does with Shawn), make a big contented sigh and curl up again.  Several Purrkins cuddles a day are just what the doctor ordered.  Not that you have a choice - when Purrkins wants a cuddle, good luck changing his mind.  Even Shawn gets stuck with a Purrkins cuddle on a regular basis, allergies be damned.

Everyone needs a ball of cat in their lap

Although Klingons can be annoying, there is something reassuring about that kind of adoration and attention - whether you are out at the nightclub or at home with your family.

PS  Three of our four pets are rescue animals.  Remember - adopt don't shop.  Click on Oscar's Law in my Link List on the right if you need to know more about why don't buy pets from pet stores or online.

PPS I hope that it hasn't escaped your notice that I have elegantly tied in pets with Star Trek again.  Does anyone smell scrambled eggs and toast?