And what of Fred and Thelma while all this travelling, marrying and homemaking was going on? Well, fortunately, there was no lack of loving foster homes over here, and the two cats have never been short of a place to stay. And now, after a stint at Park’s parents out in the rolling, green hills of the Victorian countryside, Fred and Thelma have come for a visit to see if our place is the sort they’d like to call home.
Regal and dignified, Fred’s the clear leader of the pair. On arrival at our place, he was the first one to venture out, whiskers twitching, into the unknown, with Thelma following carefully behind. Which is not to say Thelma’s cautious and timid (far from it), but Fred’s also a lot like an eldest child – serious, responsible and ready to take charge – and, when necessary, Thelma will defer to Fred and his natural authority.
Both cats are highly affectionate, but the similarities end there, and if Fred’s like an eldest child, Thelma’s just like your classic youngest: cute, attention-seeking and carefree to the point of vacuity; she’s as easy-going as they come.
So far Thelma’s fitting in very well (although she’d likely fit in anywhere), but Fred seems to be having some adjustment issues. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Incidentally, Fred and Thelma are named after Park’s grandparents. If they’d been mine to name and I’d done the same, I would have got Bill & Madge or Jack & Kitty. Hmm, Kitty cat; not too bad. Although Kit Cat would be the shortened form, which I’m not so sure about.
