Six months with Hipek

 'Twas on the 19th of March that Hipek first arrived; a big old male, white with black patches, sat under the altanka in the garden. He'd had the tip of his left ear cut, which the internet suggested meant that he had been TNR'd (trapped-neutered-returned), a programme to catch and castrate stray cats. At first, Hipek was wary of coming into my house, but over time, he learned to trust me. He could depend on this place for a square meal and a bed for the night as winter edged into spring.

When he first allowed me to inspect him, I found three fat ticks on his body. I extracted them, and fitted him with a Foresto anti-tick collar; since then not one has infested the old cat (those things work).

I'd ask my neighbours about him. He's familiar, but no one knows for sure whether he has an owner. Anyway, six months on, he's settled down here.

Céleste, Czester, Arcturus and Scrapper all got on well with Hipek. Their mum, Wenus, was initially wary. She'd hiss at him. I could see her perspective; "here we are, a happy family, and this interloper comes along competing for resources, possibly spreading disease to my children..." After a while, however, Wenus came to accept Hipek. I now often see the two of them out in the forest together.

 However, there is a real problem between Hipek and Pacyfik. Pacio simply refuses to accept Hipek as part of the colony. Pacio had a problem when the kittens were born, but he's got over that. But with Hipek, there's constant hissing, growling and swiping with his paw.

At first, Hipek would not respond, stoically bearing all of Pacio's histrionics. However, within the last few weeks, Hipek has decided he's taking no more shit from Pacio. Hipek is much more massive than the svelte Pacio, and should a fight break out (so far thankfully it hasn't), Hipek would surely prevail. Slowly, he advances towards Pacio. So Pacio retreats behind the cupboard in the corner of the kitchen, a tight space where where the capacious Hipek can't fit. And from the safety of this redoubt, Pacio carries on hissing and growling at Hipek.

And all this despite Hipek's participation in the mission to rescue Pacio in late July.

But everyone else gets on with Hipek. Arcturus, Pacio's biological identical twin brother, will happy doze next to Hipek on my bed or on the sofa. As will Scrapper, with whom Hipek often runs outside. This makes me suspect a genetic vector of intolerance. Why do four siblings, all raised identically to Pacio, accept the Outsider, while Pacio reacts with such vehemence? 

And the kittens, who, unlike their uncles, don't know a world without Hipek. Every one of them is cool with Hipek. When out in the garden or the forest next door, Hipek will keep watch as they play. They feel safe. I'll sometimes go to the forest with all five kittens, their mum and Hipek.

Hipek is emotionally well balanced; he always waits for the kittens to eat first before sauntering up to a bowl, and is never impatient nor does he bother me for food or attention. A mild-mannered gentleman. He has learned to respond to his name.

Hipek sleeps with a lovely snore, which I can hear from my bedroom through a closed door. "Cats also snore, but with a prep-school accent," observes Jacek Koba in Epigramology. Hipek usually spends the night in a cat basket on the kitchen windowsill, surrounded by the kittens.

Why 'Hipek'? Subconsciously, is it because of his size he reminded me of a hippo? His alternative name is Ol' Mr. Heaps; his alter ego Hiram Heaps was born in 1838, and used to vote for the Federalist Party.

Long may Hipek live in good feline health. And may Pacio learn to accept Hipek.

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