Ode to Spot

Our tribute to the felines that have enriched our lives

"Throughout the ages, from Keats to Jorkemo, poets have composed odes
to individuals who have had a profound effect upon their lives."

Data/TNG "Schisms"

Felis Cattus is your taxonomic nomenclature
An endothermic quadruped carnivorous by nature

Nancy's Julian

Your visual, olfactory and auditory senses
contribute to your hunting skills and natural defenses

Nancy's cats Odo, Dax, Kira and Julian

I find myself intrigued by your subvocal oscillations,
a singular development of cat communications;

that obviates your basic hedonistic predilection
for a rhythmic stroking of your fur, to demonstrate affection

Dax, Julian, Odo and Matthew getting some "rhythmic stroking"

Nancy and Kira

A tail is quite essential for your acrobatic talents;
you would not be so agile if you lacked its counterbalance

Nancy's Odo and Dax on top of the world

Doug's Matthew (and friend) on top of things

And when not being utilized to aid in locomotion,
it often serves to illustrate the state of your emotion

Jan's Marilla, whose tail is "reacting" to avian stimuli

O Spot,
the complex levels of behavior you display
connote a fairly well-developed cognitive array

Nancy's cats Kira, Odo and ???

Matthew and Marilla

And though you are not sentient, Spot,
and do not comprehend, I nonetheless consider you a true and valued friend

The End

Cat gifs came from Opossum Sally's Goldenmean at http://www.homestead.com/opossumsally/index1.html