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Buttons, Buddha's Protege

Buttons In Buddha's Pawsteps

Buttons is Velcro's litter brother and in a way the two are exact opposites. Velcro shows his Maine Coon blood in his coat, appearance, and massive size. Buttons is medium sized and short haired and hardly shows his Maine Coon blood in his appearance at all. Velcro is a brown mackerel tabby. Buttons is a brown classic tabby. Velcro is doglike in his ways, Buttons is unquestionably feline in his ways. Velcro loves water, enjoys baths, likes to swim, and laughs at spray bottle discipline tactics. Buttons hates water except for drinking. Just picking up a spray bottle is enough to convince him to stop naughty behavior or vacate a place (such as the kitchen countertops) that he knows is supposed to be off limits to cats. Velcro likes to challenge the rules and get into mischief.

Buttons however, is taking a different course in his life that's most interesting for me to watch. Once he outgrew most of his kittenhood brattiness, he started following Buddha around and emulating Buddha's actions. Buddha is the most exceptional cat I've ever known. He lives up to his name every day of his life. I can't even remember when I last heard him hiss or growl or show any anger at all. More and more, Buttons is emulating Buddha in attitude.

Most of the other cats come to Buddha to get their ears, backs of their necks, tops of their heads, under their chins, etc hard to reach places washed. Buttons quite often will be right beside Buddha, helping wash the other cats.

Buddha is over 10 now and he's showing signs of age. His chin is grayed, he's lost some teeth, and he shows age in his muscle tone. In some ways, Lily who is 14, seems younger than Buddha is. Her teeth are in amazing condition for her age, comparable to those of a 3 to 4 year old. I always hoped Buddha would age slowly. Sometimes I wonder what Buddha knows that I don't, if he foresees a future beyond what I'm able to see, and if there's a hidden purpose and intent in his mentoring Buttons. Only time will reveal the answers to these painful questions I ask myself.

In the meantime, I'm glad to see Buttons following in Buddha's pawsteps.