This is Elijah. He is what is commonly known as "teacup Persian," meaning that he was specially bred to be tiny ..... which he is. He weighs about 3 pounds soaking weight ... and he's soaking wet a lot more often than you'd think.
Given his genetics (and the frou-frou name we gave him), you might reasonably expect that Elijah lounges on satin pillows and prefers his fresh salmon served on a crystal platter -- that's certainly what we expected when we got him.
Instead, we have a fearless nighttime hunter who recently killed a squirrel that weighed more than he does. Elijah disappears about 7PM every night and doesn't reappear until early morning, damp with dew and covered in a huge variety of vegetable matter that has embedded itself in his thick, luxurious white coat. We consider ourselves quite lucky if he hasn't brought home a freshly-killed animal.
Eli (which is what we call him now that we realize how horribly inappropriate the name Elijah is) isn't real concerned about personal hygiene -- and don't even think about approaching him with a brush -- so once or twice a year we have him professionally shaved just to get him good and clean. You can see the contrast in the above before-and-after pictures.
I tell you, though, Eli has taught me a lot about self-image and the way we perceive ourselves. When we look at him, we see an ultra-prissy-looking white Persian with a snooty expression who looks like he wouldn't lower himself to chase a mouse.
But when Eli thinks of himself, he sees a lion -- and the truth is, he's more right than we are.
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