Travels with Forty Roses: Les Chats et Les Chiens

Those of you who know us also know we love cats. We had two, have had three, but sadly they have all gone on to their 10th life. What we notice here is that the French likewise love their cats. I guess that's one reason we feel right at home despite our ongoing struggle with the language. Duolingo is our breakfast, lunch and dinner. Today, Sebastien, our apartment rental contact came with a new TV box and I was so delighted to be able to respond to his question Comment ca va? with Je l'ai récupéré! that I could hardly wait to get it out. He gave a thumbs up to my pronunciation so at least I have one phrase down and a million to go!

Anyhow the French and cats...We have a very big orange fluffy cat, a male, who we have noticed sitting on the hood of a car in our street. We pet him and he purrs gruffly: surely in Charles Aznavour French. We thought he was homeless or possibly a street cat, as that's where he seems to hangout. The other morning, we were giving him his morning pat when a woman walking down the street told us he has a beautiful home but he prefers the car hood.

The first day we arrived we bought bread at our little Boulangerie on Rue de la Concorde and across the street, to my dismay, was a little black cat on the second story window sill watching a pigeon. He proceeded to jump on to the awning below and stalk the pigeon who perched on the next door ledge. John assured me he had done this many times and dragged me off, but I check each morning now to see if he is around. The shutters are always closed so suspect, and certainly wish to believe that he is safe inside.

We gave coins to a man on the street who sits with his two cats; one soft gray and the other a cream Siamese. They are both on leads and sit on little blankets beside this man who is so grateful for coins. Who knows what his story is and my language is not sufficient to ask him. One thing is evident; he loves those cats and they him. Cats sit on doorsteps, in windows and alleys. I saw a lovely one inside a very official building today. The big doors to the inner courtyard were open and I could see a cobbled drive and garden. Le Chat was calmly surveying the busy street, Rue Strasbourg, unperturbed, from his vantage point. Not to say there are no dogs. Dogs abound in every colour, shape and breed! Ratty little dogs, groomed fluffy ones, fat dogs, clipped dogs and ones that are very highly pedigreed by the look of them. And yes, everyone does not follow the poop and scoop rule. At least with cats we don’t have to clean our boots!

So, in honour of all cats and dogs, herein follows a gallery of Toulousian viewings this past week.