A friendship formed on mutual need
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Phantom and Yoyo pal up over a plate of tasty catfood
WHEN YOU live in a multi-animal household, every day brings disappointments – and surprises.
The latest surprise is the firm friendship that the cat-boys Yoyo and Phantom have suddenly formed.
These two cats have never shown any need before of any feline companionship. Yoyo tolerates the other cats, except for Thep the soi cat and Manohra the Wild Child, but doesn’t normally try to be near anyone.
When Phantom first joined us two years ago, he wanted to fight everyone. Perhaps because his health has improved, this 18-year-old has become more mellow.
Nevertheless, he seems willing to tolerate almost everyone now, and although not an out-going cat, he likes to be around people.
For me, just watching this senior cat become even more active is a pleasure. As soon as I give him his medicine in the morning, he races out of his bedroom to patrol the house, check out all the patios and then lie down by the refrigerator.
Slowly, so very slowly, his appetite is improving. Over the past year, he’s lost a kilo and a half, but now, week by week, he’s gaining, 100 grammes at a time.
He’s certainly constantly hungry. The clever boy has learned that wet food lives in the fridge, the reason that he sleeps nearby. He’s also learned how to communicate with me. One look from him means, “Brush me now!” Another look means, “I’m hungry. Feed me!”
When Phantom first starts wandering around, Yoyo appears upset. His territory is being invaded by another cat, after all.
Then suddenly, everything changes. One boy can walk past the other without any bad language. Sometimes I even see them sleeping together on the sofa.
I’m so relieved. I look forward to a household without any major battles.
Alas. I suddenly learn the secret to the two boys’ friendship. It’s all about food.
Yoyo’s kidneys are failing, a common problem as animals (even humans) get older. To protect them, he must eat a special low-protein diet. The distributors say that the food tastes good to cats, but Yoyo doesn’t really like it.
Phantom, for his age, is much healthier. He can eat anything I give him. He doesn’t eat much at one time, preferring to return again and again to his plate of food.
Yes. Yoyo has discovered this source of tasty, high-protein food. He’s learned to wait politely while Phantom enjoys his light meal. When Phantom moves away, the younger cat steps in, finishing up the food and even licking the plate, while Phantom watches him, just like a father watching his family enjoy a meal.
At first, I thought Phantom was the cat who was cleaning the plate until I finally caught Yoyo in the act.
I want Yoyo to live as long as his kidneys will let him. I want him to eat the food that will help him. Yoyo, of course, doesn’t see the situation in the same way. He wants to be happy. He wants the food that makes him happy.
The solution, I suppose, is to put him in a cage while Phantom eats. I know that people do keep their animals in cages, letting them out at certain times – but I can’t put Yoyo in jail for behaving like a cat.
I’ll just put Phantom’s plate where I can see it, so that when Yoyo starts moving towards it, I can put the dish away, and wait for the next time Phantom tells me he’s hungry.
The solution hasn’t affected the boys’ friendship. They still accept each other. Phantom, I suppose, is content to have some companionship, and Yoyo, I know, is content to live in the hope of another tasty, but forbidden, meal.
