There has been consternation swirling around the issue of cats recently at my Verdun residence.  The cats in question are called Ebene and Giroffle, and while not controversial figures themselves, they have generated no small amount of consternation on my part.  My relations with both cats have been amicable, especially in the last few months.  Giroffle, who was reticent at first, was slowly emerging from his shell and venturing into my bedroom with increasing frequency.  This was not a problem.  I like cats.  I would never say, “Get out of here, Giroffle,” or even, “Get out of here, Ebene.”  I mean, Ebene has been like a buddy to me in these times of relative solitude on the homefront.

However, the improved relations with felines became the very source of my later consternation.  Antoine, my Quebecois roommate, had been leaving every Thursday morning to go ski and practice guitar in the rural quiet of the Laurentides.  He did not come back until Mondays — sometimes even Tuesdays.  This left me the sole custodian of the cats’ emotional wellbeing for 4-5 days at a stretch.

On day one, the cats were OK.  By day 3, they would start to become agitated.  By days four and five, they would turn into mad little monsters, tearing around the place, fighting and seething with resentment at their enforced loneliness.  They would venture into my bedroom, hoping for me to engage them in some tummy rubbing, which would distract them from their emotional distress.  But there is only so much tummy rubbing I can provide.  By midnight, I’d be ready to enter the Land of Nod.  But the cats weren’t ready for me to enter the Land of Nod.  No.  It didn’t matter to Ebene and Giroffle that I had assignments due the next day or presentations to prepare or what have you. 

This sad state of affairs reached a boiling point after a particularly sleep-deprived weekend about 14 days ago.  I told Antoine that we had to find a way to placate the cats.  He was sympathetic to my cause.  Maybe he noticed the bags under my eyes.

When Antoine goes away, he now takes the cats with him.  And when weekends come around, I sleep in calm and quiet.