NO COMPROMISE

BOLITHE, A WRITER WHO DIED YOUNG, SAID THAT "THAT GREAT BOURN OF ALL COMMON SENSE:" IS "COMPROMISE". WOULD THAT MY 2 WARRIORS WOULD.

A SITUATION OF MOST UNCOMMON SENSE EXISTS IN MY HOME.

MY 7 YR.OLD NEUTERED CAT, PRIOR TO HIS NEUTERING AND SUBSEQUENT TO HIS CASTRATION, HAS DENIED HIS EUNUCH STATUS BY PICKING FIGHTS. HE HAS, FROM CONCEPTION -I SWEAR - FOSTERED AN UNMITIGATED HATRED FOR ANY FELINE COMPETITOR FOR HIS SMALL PLACE IN THE WIDE WORLD. BOTH IN YOUTH AND IN ADULTHOOD, HE HAS REJECTED THE PRESENCE OF RIVAL CAT. RATHER HE - I SWEAR AGAIN - SIMPLY WISHES TO EAT AND SLEEP ALONE (PLAYING WAS LIMITED TO KITTENHOOD ). HE BELIEVES HIMSELF (IF I MAY PRESUME TO JUDGE) A RE-INCARNATED HOWARD HUGHES WHO MUST MAINTAIN HIS SOLITARY STATUS BY FANGS AND CLAWS. HE HAS FOUGHT ANY AND ALL INTRUDERS OF HIS SPACE. THE FIRST INDOOR COMPETITOR WAS A FEMALE CAT WHO I CHOSE TO RE-PLACE INTO ANOTHER HOUSEHOLD RATHER THAN ALLOW HER TO BE VICTIMIZED BY THE 'RED BEAST.' A SECOND INTERLOPER, A KITTEN, AFTER BEING PESTERED, UNFORTUNATELY SICKENED AND DIED . A THIRD BLACK BEAUTY ENDURED NUMEROUS ASSAULTS UPON HIS FUR AND FRAME UNTIL HE PASSED AWAY TRAGICALLY. OUTDOOR COMPETITIONS WERE NUMEROUS. SOME FIGHTS BROKE -OFF TO THE SCREAMS IN THE NIGHT; OTHERS WERE PROBABLY DRAWS. ONE, A STAND-OFF, RESULTED IN MY MAN LOST IN A HAYLOFT FOR WEEK. ANOTHER, A DEFEAT, RESULTED IN MY GLADIATOR PERMANENTLY LOSING HIS VOICE. LAST YEAR, I BROUGHT A TAWNY, TABBY FOUNDLING INTO MY HOUSE. THIS WEE KITTEN KNEW NO FEAR. HE WAS GENETICALLY PROGRAMED FOR PLAY. HIS ENTHUSIASTIC MOCK ATTACKS WERE IN VOGUE EACH DAY. THE MATURE RECLUSE BY THIS TIME , WAS CONFINED PERMANENTLY TO THE INDOORS BECAUSE OUTDOOR EXCURSIONS USUALLY ENDED IN DISASTER . BY NOW, HE REALLY 'VANTED TO BE ALONE.' BUT NO WAY. THE JOYFUL KITTEN, MATURED INTO AN EQUALLY JOYFUL ADULT WITH EQUANIMINITY. HE NOW ENJOYS A QUOTIDIAN CHASE, POUNCE, AMBUSH, BOXING MATCH, OR ATTEMPTED BITE - EACH LEVELED AT THE 'RED BEAST.'

WHY WON'T THESE TWO COMBATANTS COMPROMISE? EACH ENCOUNTER BREAKS UP MY QUIET WITH THUNDERING PAWS AND HISSES. IT'S A LOSE/LOSE/LOSE SITUATION. THE THIRD LOSS IS MY PEACE OF MIND. PSYCHOLOGISTS ADVISE AGAINST PURSUING ACTIONS THAT ELICIT AN UNDESIRABLE RESPONSE. MY SMALL CONSOLATION IS THAT THIS IS JUST THE NATURE OF THE BEAST.