Bonzai

A California couple I’ve known for many years own a large, very sociable, yet covertly devious orange and white tabby, who, for all one knows, could be “Garfield’s” cousin. At a slim 23 pounds, Bonzai has been the “Master” of their household for over 8 years and obviously determined to hold the reins as long as he can.

On a brisk Thanksgiving morning, he was found by their daughter, Lara, wide eyed and shivering, lurking in the bushes on the front lawn, a pipsqueak of a kitten, maybe 3 to 4 weeks old, and so tiny he could easily nestle in the palm of a child’s hand. Surely, he must have been the runt of the litter. After a month of posting flyers throughout the neighborhood, no one called to claim him, so this itty bitty feline became the newest member of a wonderful, animal loving family. But Bonzai didn’t remain small for long, growing in size until he resembled Buddha, with a big, lovingly mischievous heart to match.

From day one, he was never afraid of people or dogs. He was a “pouncer”, and from a very early age, loved to hide under the couch, chairs and beds, just waiting for someone to walk by. He would then jump out and pretend to attack their shoe or leg, Even when he was smaller than a shoe, he was absolutely fearless. Once he attacked, he would jump straight up and dash back to where he was hiding. “Fun game”, he must have thought. If you watched him anticipate a surprise attack, he would wiggle his butt from side to side, ready to pounce out of seemingly nowhere, like the Japanese soldiers of World War II shouting their infamous battle cry “bonzai”, (bonz-eye) as they emerged from the bush to attack. And that’s how Bonzai got his name.

The house was, and remained Bonzai’s domain; his personal “Stage Of Performing Arts”, where he can show off his talent and many antics to the captive audience of his household and anyone else that happens to be around. From the getgo, Misty, the family dog, (a Lab, Sharpeii and Sheppard mix) bonded and got along very well with this new feline “intruder”. They slept together, played together and roamed together, with nary a scuffle interrupting their relationship. Then one day, enter Midnight (a Black Lab and Husky mix), the new “kid on the block”. She was quite hyper but intelligent, and had a tendency to be “socially stupid” (like not taking physical clues from other animals, always thinking everyone wanted to play). The day she came home, she ran into the house like a tornado, from room to room. Unannounced to Bonzai, sleeping peacefully on a rug in the master bedroom, she raced smack into him with a startling impact. And with all his weight, Bonzai was able to jump up and chase after Midnight, pinning her in a corner of the bathroom, where poor Midnight, who only wanted to be friendly, let loose all her bodily functions. Except for a possible twinge of shame, she was not physically hurt. After that, it was decided they would be better off separated, and have been kept so ever since. Bonzai has the run of the master bedroom during the day. Then at night, there is a “changing of the guard”, when Midnight takes over the master bedroom and Bonzai has the run of the rest of the house. Bonzai, to this day, is not afraid of Midnight, but she is very leery of him, respecting his turf and keeping her distance as best she can.

Bonzai, you are loved by all who have come to know you. Keep the show going, my friend!

Mel Salvat
Cathedral City, California
For Bonzai, Misty and Midnight, and their human family.