Spinning with Basil

Basil
Basil

Basil the handsome tabby cat came to me with an attitude. He had definite opinions about other cats, especially intact males, although he himself was neutered. After a few months at my house a stray cat showed up in the neighbourhood and Basil did NOT APPROVE. Bloody and bitter fights ensued.

Spinning with Basil
Spinning with Basil

A neighbor and I conspired to neuter the stray cat, who I now called Puffy because he looked a bit like my cat Scruffy. Puffy was friendly and easily caught. At the vet he was neutered and vaccinated. Unfortunately he also tested positive for FIV, a kitty virus that is normally only spread through cats fighting.

We now needed to find Puffy a home where he could be an indoor cat and not infect any other cats. In the meantime Basil took it as his personal mission to kill Puffy. I could not let him out on his own so I started to walk him on a leash. Basil took to the harness and leash splendidly, so long as he did not spot Puffy. Walking a cat is not an aerobic exercise so to amuse myself while Basil sniffed bushes and rolled on the sidewalk I took along my favourite spindle.

Basil is no longer with us but Puffy found a great home with another FIV+ cat and got a new, more dignified name – Angus.

Puffy
Puffy