Whiskers and Wings Series
Totally Feline ™ : Whiskers and Wings
By Dee A. K.Image: Ai-Generated from photos taken by Dee A. K.
(A large, distinguished grey tabby with snowshoes, impressive black stripes and spots stretches slowly before settling into a perfectly sitting position).
“The name's Otis Charles. I’ve been around since 2009. That would make me the senior member of the Totally Feline ™ crew, not that I'm keeping track. Let's just say I've seen a few things, learned what matters, and figured out that most situations improve with a well-timed nap and the right attitude.”
"I've got this rescue thing down to a science now. It took the humans long enough to find me back in '09. But, hey, good things come to those who wait. These days, I leave the dramatics to the younger cats. Me? I prefer the refined approach, a slow blink here, a measured purr there, maybe claiming the best spot in the house without having to ask twice. Except for some members in the house I prefer not to mention. (pause and complete word in quiet voice) Edgar.”
“Age brings wisdom, and wisdom brings. Well, the ability to get exactly what you want without breaking a sweat. Or a whisker. At least most of the time.”
( Otis causally flicks his tail as he relaxed upon his comfy cat couch and ended his conversation with) It was so nice to meet you.
(As Otis was completing his introduction and got up from his comfortable couch and walked out of the living room, a breeze of wind blew into the room. A black male cat with silk-like fur shimmers under the light. With a party and hip-hop manner he begins his introduction.)
“YO, YO EDGAR SHABA aka THE RENEGEDE IN THE HOUSE! That's right, my homey cats. I have been bringing the energy of pure dopeness since my grand rescue debut in 2012! Woohoo!”
“Calm isn’t my name, I’m too wild to tame. Even my own cat mom and littermates couldn’t stop me. I am the RENEGEDE. Going to the cat school helped me relieve some of that pent-up energy. I LOVE TO TRAIN especially for TREATS! “
“When it comes to 3 AM zoomies I am the best. Little GE has nothing on me. I am the cat’s meow. I INVENTED 3 AM funky fresh house party time zoomies! Every cardboard box is a nightclub, every paper bag is a dance floor and every closed door is a PERSONAL CHALLENGE!”
( With an unexpected twist he does a spontaneous backflip off the nearest surface onto the floor)
“Otis Charles is very predictable? Love the cat daddy, but PLEASE…life's too short not PARTY! ( Edgar dances around the room with an exhilarating dance and begins break dancing.) I've got approximately seventeen different meows. AND I USE THEM ALL. Sometimes simultaneously. The humans rescued me in 2012 and they've been living in the most exciting and entertaining life they have ever had. Loud Purrs, catnip and treats.”
(Suddenly, Edgar stops dancing and turns serious in his tone) “I admit sometimes I can be a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. But…” (Edgar begins moving his body again with an exciting dance routine) I prefer to party. Every day's a party when Edgar Shaba is in the house! TREATS and of that crazy jazz. Now if you'll excuse me, I hear music. I think there's a party I need to crash.”
(With the speed of lightning Edgar zooms out of the room. A sleek and elegant petite tuxedo cat enters the room with each paw placed with deliberate grace. The sunlight shining from the grand window in the family living room cast upon her shunning eye accentuating her green eyes with an overcast yellow. With a soft southern accent she introduced herself.)
“Hi y’all I am Roberta Snowshoe. Please, do take a moment to appreciate the name. It has a certain “creme de creme”, don't you think?”
“I made my debut with this household in 2015. At a mere age of six months. Even then I possessed an unmistakable refinement. Some cats need years to develop grace. Darlin’ I was simply born with such charm. Momma Kitty and Daddy Kitty both had humble beginnings in the country in which I earned the nickname of “Country Bumpkin” as I am kindly referred to by my mere housemates. But I prefer to refer to myself as a “Country Princess.”
(She delicately grooms one paw and the next paw and continues to talk.)
“While Edgar…bless his little heart… crashes like some sort of caffeinated tornado and Otis, a distinguished gentleman lounges in his routine, I maintain the “Southern Charm” around here. Someone has to. Every surface I grace becomes instantly magic. Every ray of sunshine I occupy transforms into a portrait opportunity. It's not vanity, darlin’. It's simply awareness of one's natural gifts.”
(Roberta switching into a different position with her front paws stretched with the likes of an Egyptian Sphynx)
“My fur? Softer than fresh-spun cotton and twice as pretty. My posture? Flawless. My ability to look devastatingly beautiful, darlin’ ? Pure Southern charm.”
“ I chose to be rescued. I simply authorized a tactical relocation to more suitable accommodations. “
( With a slow and elegant blink Roberta stood from her cat loaf position and gave a forward stretch of her front limbs)
“Now, if you'll excuse me darlin’, I have some cooking to do in the kitchen. Nothin’ like some southern cooked tuna covered with some tuna puree gravy. Who better to cook than a “Country Bumpkin” I mean “Country Chef”.
( As Roberta exits the living room with a regalness, another cat alert emerges from behind the furniture cautiously and carefully. With a compact built body and eyes of gold this female black cat mirrors a miniature panther. She pauses to survey the room).
“Pearline Sheba. Yeah, I came in the same year as Miss Country Bumpkins in the kitchen…2015. Don't let that fool you into thinking we're anything alike. Where her life began in the country I am 100% a city cat.”
( With rotating ears Pearline keeps track of distant sound.)
“Look, I'm not saying I'm suspicious of everything and everybody. But I'm also NOT saying that I’m not. New box in the hallway? I'll check it out from three different angles. Strange noise from the kitchen? Already on it, but I'm taking the long route with maximum cover. That's not fear, that's strategy.”
( Pearline creeps forward, then suddenly bops an imaginary target with lightning speed).
“I've got what Otis calls ‘alertness”’, whatever that is. What Edgar calls "WHY ARE YOU SWATTING ME?!" It’s not my fault everyone else moves before they think. I explore and I investigate. I occasionally launch a preemptive strike on anything that looks suspicious. Which are the best things?”
(Pearline looks around the room as if she’s staking out a mouse.)
“Roberta aka Ms Southern Kitty says I'm "high-strung." I say, I'm prepared for the unexpected. There's a big difference. Every new item needs thorough inspection. Behind every closed door could be a Yao Ming waiting to attack. So, when you have a cat like him in your house you must be aware of your surroundings at all times. “
( Pearline suddenly freezes and stares toward the door of the living room.)
“ Did you see Yao Ming Lorenzo? I don’t trust him with my golden eyes wide open.”
(With a quickness Pearline Sheba rushes back to the couch and hides. Not long after Pearline made her way to hide behind the couch her adversary appeared. A muscular cat with a unique ticked tabby pattern enters the room from the hallway. With a light bounce to his gait his hazel eyes gleam with suspicion.)
“Yao Ming Lorenzo. Yeah… I know, it's a mouthful. You can just call me whatever sticks, honestly. I'm the new cat on the block, the outsider. Well, new since 2021. But when you're living with cats who've been here since ancient times you're gonna be "the new guy" for a while.”
(Yao sits down in the cat loaf position, one leg sticking out at an odd angle, watching).
"So there's this whole established crew thing going on, right? Otis is the wise elder. We get along great. Edgar the chaos party animal. He's cool too. And then there's “them”. Gerome aka G.E. with his perfect little routine. His sidekick Ella aka E.J. the size of Godzilla. Roberta Snowshoe, southern belle supermodel. Pearline Sheba doing her ninja surveillance thing like she owns the place. And, a crazy bird, Simon Simone, that talks too much.”
(Yao twitches his ears toward a sound coming from the kitchen. His hazel eyes tracking movement down the hall. In the background Pearline makes a dash for the kitchen.)
“I tried fitting in when I first got here. Didn't work. Maybe, maybe because I did chase and attack them? But would that have made a difference when you have your cliques, your territories, your little hierarchies. So I found my own way to participate.”
(He stretches with deceptive casualness with his claws extending just slightly.)
"See, someone's gotta keep things interesting around here, right? A little pounce when Gerome's not looking. A strategic ambush while Roberta is cooking her renowned southern flounder. And, stalking Pearline until she attacks me. “
(With a mischievous grin, Yao Ming sits up and looks up.)
"They rescued me in '21 or moreless I moved in. I got sick of those streets. Dogs and rain storms were getting on my nerves. And, the humans who had me did know how to care for me. I've been here ever since. Still the outsider. Still watching from the edges. Still making my presence known. One sneak attack at a time.”
(Suddenly Yao Ming turns to a noise coming from the hall, He turns toward the hallway in attack mode.)“Who was that? Was that G.E. or Pearline or maybe Roberta the southern princess”
( As Yao Ming was sneaky down the hall, a young, white brown and grey slender tabby bright-eyed cat raced from the kitchen direction. He gracefully leapt upon the living room maple brown console table positioned against the wall.”
"Yay! Gerome Ellis aka GE! That's me! I was found at a gas station in 2023 and the rest is history. So yeah! I'm basically the baby of the family. But don't let that fool you, because I have already planned my next big expedition! I have plans to climb the tallest tree in the hood.”
(With one leap G.E. jumps to the near perch upon the wall)
“Seeeee, I might be the youngest, but I've got moves. Roberta says I have pure southern grace. Which is pretty cool coming from her.”
“Every room is uncharted territory! Every shelf is a mountain to climb! That top of the bookcase nobody ever goes to? CONQUERED IT. Twice.”
( Gerome balances on one paw effortlessly before springing to the next wall perch.)
“Yao Ming says I've got the energy of an idiot. Edgar tries to keep up with me on the zoomies front, but I can do backflips mid-zoom. Pearline watches my exploring techniques and I think she's impressed? Or concerned. Hard to tell with her.”
( Sparkles in his bright yellowish eyes reap of mischief and wonder. Unexpectively G.E, leaps to the floor.)
“Every day's a new adventure when you're G.E. Gerome Ellis! That weird space behind the washing machine? I've been there. The forbidden closet? I snuck in it many times. Near the bird cage or the fish aquarium on the top shelf? My favorite spot. I'm young, I'm fearless, and I stick the landing every time. Well... most times.”
(Laughing with pure boyish charm G.E. run out of the living room and back into the kitchen.As Germone hurries out of the living room a round, adorable orange Maine Coon tabby with her flowing fluffy tail trots in with determined little steps, clearly tracking someone. She spots Gerome in the kitchen. This youthful cat's whole face lights up with excitement.)
"Oh! Hi! I'm Ella Julia aka E.J. aka Chicken Bone Ella! I just got here in 2024 by way of a drug store. So I'm an ACTUAL baby. No offense, G.E. Gerome, but facts are facts!”
( Ella waddles closer to the kitchen entrance with endearing enthusiasm in her voice.)
“Speaking of Gerome, where is he? I was following him like two seconds ago. And I lost him. He did that thing where he jumps on top of the TV console thingmajig. I'm still working on that particular skill. So where did he go?”
(Ella sits down with a soft plop and then flops to her side.)
"Okay, so here's the thing about me. I love food. A LOT of it. Breakfast! Lunch! And Dinner! DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED on snacks! Yes please, all of them, right now. The humans say I have ‘a healthy appetite’. I'm pretty sure it is code for ‘Ella is eating too much’.
(Suddenly Ella sits up and jumps onto her feet.)
“G.E. is my preferred associate. We do just about everything together! He goes exploring and I go exploring! He climbs things and I... Well, I attempt to climb things. Mostly I just follow him around because he is my best friend and big brother.”
(Ella hears a distant sound coming from the kitchen. She immediately scrambles to the kitchen entrance)
“Wait! Was that Gerome? That sounded like Gerome! I better go to the bathroom first.”
(Ella starts trotting off and then pauses to say)
“Oh! Also, if anyone sees where they keep the treats, I'm interested in that information. For research purposes only. “
“Gotta go! Gerome, wait up! I gotta go to the bathroom first.”
(With bouncing enthusiasm and her little round belly swaying Ella heads into the kitchen.A burst of colorful feathers and piercing squawking announces an arrival from above as she lands on the highest perch available in the spacious living room.)
"HELLO! HI! HELLOOOOO! Can you hear me? Probably so because I'm INCREDIBLY LOUD!”
( She bobs head with excitement and flips her wings.)
"Oh! Oh! I'm Simon Simone! That's my name! Simon Simone! I just got here in 2025. Literally the newest member of the Totally Feline crew! Which is fun because I'm a bird in a cat house! A Conure! Not a cat! But here we are! Here I am!”
(Simon Simone whistles sharply.)
“Oh my gosh! There's so much to talk about! First of all, have you SEEN this place? There are seven cats here! SEVEN! Otis is very serious and distinguished. I tried landing on his head yesterday, but it did not go well. Edgar loves me. We're chaos buddies. Roberta acts like a southern princess. She is pretty like me.”( Simone is flapping her wings enthusiastically.)
“Pearline is confused about what I am. ADORABLE hello, I CAN FLY! Yao Ming thinks I'm funny. We're both kind of outsiders. Gerome wants to chase me SO BAD but he's too polite to actually try. And Ella Julia just stares at me like I'm some kind of exotic snack. Which is concerning but also flattering?”
(With an ear-splitting screech, Simone continues to speak.)
"Anyway! I'm Simon Simone and I talk! A lot! All day! Sometimes all night! I can mimic sounds and I can whistle. I can make this clicking noise that drives everyone CRAZY. Wanna hear it?”
(She makes the clicking noise as Simon flips her wings.)
"I'm just so excited to be here! A bird in a cat crew! That could be really cool!”
( While Simon chatters nonstop she hopping from perch to perch upon the large bird tree.)
“Oh! Oh! Did I mention I can say "HELLO"? Because I can! HELLOOOOO! SIMON SIMONE SAYS HELLO!”
Written by Totally Feline™ Totally Feline CC ™ © 2019–2026 Totally Feline™. All rights reserved.This article may not be reproduced or republished without written permission.
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