One night not long ago, I thought I heard a gentle knock on the door.
It was pretty late for a knock on the door, and I really hoped I was just hearing things. But, I heard it again, so I took a deep breath, summoned my courage and went to check it out. I reassured myself that it wasn’t a loud panicked knock.

As soon as I rounded the corner, I realized who it was. This was no scary night time problem! (Phew!)

It was just my cat, Talula, playing fetch with herself by throwing her favorite toy down the steps, retrieving it, walking back up the steps, and throwing it again. She’s a quiet cat so all you hear of her game is the bounce, bounce, bounce of the ball.

Which sounds a lot like a gentle knock, knock, knock on the door.

I remembered that this happened before, when the kids and I were playing a game in the dining room and thought someone was knocking on the door.

That was the first time we heard her do it, we set up a camera and caught her playing her clever game. Now we hear it every day, and know exactly what she’s doing.

She’s always loved to play fetch. Her favorite toy used to be a curled up pipe cleaner. Now, it’s a fun ball with a tail that she got for Christmas, and had to re-stock recently. I do wonder how many of those toys might be lost under my couch.

I know I find them on and at the bottom of the steps every day.

Often as I’m settling into bed I hear that bounce, bounce, bounce on the steps.

There’s something so sweet about it. She has a favorite toy, loves to play fetch, and can seemingly entertain herself!

There’s something so sad about it. I hope she likes to play alone, now that she’s the only cat.

She seems more personable — can you say that about a cat? She seems more… catable… now that she’s the only cat.

I hope she isn’t lonely, now that she’s the only cat.

I thinks she’s happy, now that she’s the only cat. When the dog is not around, she’s chatty, playful and snuggly, and she asks me to play fetch with her more. (Maybe she doesn’t want to make him feel bad since she is so much better at fetch than he is.)

Last night as I was settling in for bed, I heard the bound, bounce bounce. A minute later I looked down and saw my invitation.

If you’ve ever had a cat friend, you know this is no light request. You don’t deny those big cat eyes!

I threw it for her, and was surprised when I saw her across the room taking a rest instead of requesting more of her favorite game.

But a few minutes later I heard the bounce, bounce, bounce once again.

It’s a sweet sound to fall asleep to.

Talula
I hope she likes to play alone
She’s more personable on her own —
More playful, snuggly when the dog’s not home
I hope she’s not lonely, being alone