azdak

I am rather shocked to discover that, just as they did with the dog, the kittens have plugged right into my maternal instincts. Unlike Lucky, I don't feel any particular urge to lick them, but I cuddle them and coo over them and worry about how much they miss their mother. I feel like that woman on the Ben Elton rant about pet food adverts, the one where he marvels at human stupidity - "She thinks she is her CAT'S MOTHER!!!" That's me. "Come to mummy, furry baby!" I coo, and then my heart glows when they do.

I never felt like this last time we had kittens, but I suspect that's because back then we also had a two year old, and she used up all my maternal instincts and more. All things considered, this is probably a good time to have acquired a job teaching English at the nursery (8.30-9.30 every day, so I can still get into Vienna in time for rehearsals) so I get my fix of small, immature humans.

And speaking of babies, this is one of the most repellent manifestations of capitalist excess I have seen in a long time. G.K. Chesterton has a totally bizarre article in which he argues that we love children because they are virgins (because, he says, it would be ridiculous to think that we love them because they are small and immature - so I guess its their virginal status that makes me so fond of the kittens) but he does say, quite rightly, that children's "special beauty would be spoiled by any hint of sex." Apparently the modern parent doesn't necessarily agree...