Gagme
Gagme & Baxter
August 2002
I cannot believe how much has changed since I first wrote this for Gagme.
In December 2001, I brought Tatters into my household, and everything changed. Tatters essentially stepped into Gagme's former role, leaving Gagme adrift. She was used to being the baby, the small one, the cute one, and suddenly there was another small cute crazy cat to contend with. Gagme has mellowed over the years, but Tatters' arrival catapulted Gagme headlong into adulthood, and she wasn't quite ready for it. She still shows flashes of her old temper at times, and often looks at Tatters as if she would like to befriend her. She is affectionate, loving, and she was the only cat to let Baxter sleep next to her.
2001: history
Gagme is the baby of the family - my problem child - and the
undisputed queen of the household (in her eyes, at
least). At 7 lbs, she has terrorized the other cats
into their due places. She is my only longhaired cat -
she is the same gray/blue as Gleep, but with pale green
eyes. Her name is actually Ananda, but through an
unfortunate circumstance, Gagme stuck.
I had been thinking about getting another cat, but had succeeded in talking myself out of it. Then, one Sunday in 1998, I was overwhelmed with this drive to get to the pound. It was incredibly strong, and I just decided to do it.
Gagme was only 5 pounds, matted terribly, and looked half-starved. She had been dumped at the pound along with her kittens - her humans were divorcing. She needed me, and I brought her home. (I kept in touch with the pound until her last kitten was adopted.)
She walked into my house and took it over. Within 10 minutes, she had the other cats lined up on the far wall of the living room staring at her with undisguised fear. She never had to fight them - she intimidated them from day 1. Eventually, she became comfortable enough to allow the others to get close to her.
