Houdini

This is my husband, Houdini. He's Christina's cat and he's very very very fat. I wrote a comparative essay about him and Oreo. It describes him very well. Here it is:

Houdini and Oreo are two lovable, adorable cats who, despite their differences, are both capable of very mindless acts. They are both very fat, though Houdini is forever larger. Oreo has the amazing ability to make himself very long, allowing himself to be worn as a scarf. Houdini can be dainty but still be very heavy. Oreo is very curious and more playful than the brooding Houdini. Houdini is less outgoing than Oreo, and prefers hiding in small places to being out in the open. Their facial features are very different, but they can still pull off the endearing “curious cat” look. They have diverse ways of spending their time. Houdini and Oreo are very different, both physically and personality-wise.

Houdini and Oreo are, of course, both cats and therefore share some physical traits, though they still have many bodily differences. Houdini is so fat that he is hard to pick up. Oreo’s black and white coat is smooth, and consists of long hair; while Houdini’s orange hair is coarse and shorter. Houdini’s favorite position is curled up in a ball while Oreo likes to vary in shape depending on his container. He will curl up into a picnic basket or spread himself out across the bed based on his mood. Houdini is a Somali, and his coloring is a cross between fawn and sorrel. Oreo looks more like a Rag doll, collapsing easily in one’s arms. He is black and white with a very long tail. Houdini and Oreo look very different and have different body structures.

Houdini and Oreo also have very different personalities; Oreo is outgoing and Houdini just wants to be left alone. Oreo is always a willing candidate for a belly rub or a scratch under the chin. He enjoys attention so much that one time, while he was being massaged, he rolled over and fell off the scratching post. When Oreo counts his blessings, the yarn ball, tootsie pop wrappers, paper, string, and feathers are all first on his list. He was much more enthusiastic about the catnip than Houdini, ripping out mouthfuls of it at a time. He is also much more photogenic than Houdini, because Houdini usually runs away if someone gets too close to him. Oreo is very inquisitive; he seemed genuinely interested when he discovered bubbles for the first time. He even smelled the camera when it invaded his personal space. Oreo and Houdini both enjoy being hand fed little dry cat food morsels. Bubbles popping on one’s nose can be an unpleasant experience, as Houdini and Oreo both learned. They will therefore run away to avoid this situation. Houdini will only allow himself to be stroked if he is already lying down, caught unawares, or being held firmly. He likes his head scratched more than his flabby stomach. He enjoys his jawbone being scratched and his forehead rubbed, as does Oreo. Houdini wasn’t very interested in the catnip, but he did enjoy sniffing it in small quantities. Houdini likes milk-treading on Christina’s silk shirts, the carpet, and unsuspecting sleepers. When Houdini is not hiding in a corner or behind the couch, he enjoys stepping on people and meowing very loudly. Houdini seems smarter than Oreo because Oreo gets into trouble more often. Houdini and Oreo both enjoy basic cat activities, but they are still very different cats.

If one looked closely enough, one would notice many characteristics about cats’ faces, such as Oreo’s hidden cleverness and Houdini’s introversion. Oreo has light green, intelligent eyes that look out of place with the scrawny whiskers and ear-hair that dominate his appearance. His pink nose has a lot of character; it adds a small touch to complete that rough explorer-look that characterizes his face. An inquiring nose sets out first to sniff an object, and then those intelligent eyes identify it. Oreo’s rustic fur that just can’t look neat gives him a sleek informality in spite of its messy appearance. Houdini had a very wild look when he was a kitten, but he has shed his kit-hood coat. Nowadays, his medium-long hair concisely frames his face and neck. His eyes and slightly flaring nose give him an intimidating stare, and his ears needn’t be back in order for him to look perturbed. He has much dignity and looks at one disdainfully most of the time. It seems like the only thing that isn’t daunting about Houdini’s face is his tiny pink chin. His cute little chin looks fragile because it is covered only in stubble. His forehead is wrinkled and if his ears are straight, he looks very inquisitive. Houdini’s eyes are a golden honey color and are very expressive. They can be curious as well as cold, loving along with loathing. They are lined with creamy white fur, as if Houdini were wearing eyeliner. A cats’ face is expressive and no two are the same even if the emotions shown are alike.

All in all, Oreo and Houdini are both fat, fuzzy creatures with their own nuances. They both have very expressive faces and have their own quirks. Houdini is a sullen cat that would rather be left alone. Oreo is curious and sometimes gets himself into a tight predicament. They both enjoy weaving themselves through picture frames, heaps of clothing, and Christina’s porcelain figure collection. Oreo’s long hair is black and white as opposed to Houdini’s light orange fur that is medium in length. Oreo’s motto would be, “I’m a little cat just walking down the street, gonna cause a heap of trouble for all concerned.” Houdini’s would be, “Maybe if I shut my eyes, they won’t see me either.” These two cats are half brothers on their father’s side. Houdini and Oreo are cats to admire for their similarities and differences.

Do you like it? I do. Well, that basically sums up Oreo and Houdini. I'll include a picture of Oreo in my next entry. ttyl!