Love in the Time of Dobby

Dobby is obsessed with grooming.  Rather, Dobby is obsessed with being brushed.  We have, at least, five different brush sets -- some meant for humans, which he prefers, and the more expensive, less effective ones designed specifically for cats.

He immediately separates the comb from the brush.  The comb means that I am going after the trouble spot at the base of his tail -- dandruff -- and he does not enjoy that.  Usually, he knocks it to the floor.  Today, he just made off with it.

All the cats are bothered by recording, except Buddy, whose arrival coincided with my first video camera.  So I was very surprised that Dobby behaved fairly normally, except that he didn't flop and  "give me the belly" with his usual alacrity.  His belly produces a prodigious amount of hair that I'd rather brush off at the source than breathe in off a pillow...

He is also extremely paranoid about the other cats seeing him groomed.  He heard Buddy in another room at some point and his head barely swiveled away from that point on...

We do this at least three times a day -- this was clearly more play than a dedicated effort to get at his shedding hair.  This is Dobby Time.

First video with new camera. Be kind.

The scene:  I'm in bed, the Food Network serves as white noise, when Dobby and Buddy both wake from a long August nap.  In typical fashion, there is lots of love and mutual grooming going on as they slowly regain consciousness.  Buddy cannot, however, maintain the love and soon wants to be the beastie Maine Coon that he is, and tries to grab the Dobster by the neck.  This time, Dobby stands up for himself, and also, for good measure, wisely runs away, so as to live another day.  Repeat scene 10-20 times a day, and that about sums up their relationship.

This is, honest, the first attempt at using the video feature on the new Sony HandyCam, after destroying my previous camera in a sink of nice, soapy water.  I'm not sure I like all the results but -- since I am using it with the understanding and mastery of a complete idiot -- for a first effort, I am satisfied.

Yes, one day you will see something besides cats, my hands and feet, and Fred's beautiful belly.  I don't know when, but it's bound to happen.