The Songbirds, The Cat, and the Traitor (who loves both)

This week, I wanted to share the story of the newest member of the AzarÉl Greetings home: HiJinx. Somehow, we have become an accidental magnet for cats. It wasn’t exactly our intention.  The simple truth? If you put food outside, they will come!

It is a bit ironic, isn’t it? My retirement gig is dedicated to the beauty of wild birds, yet I share my home with their “mortal enemies.” It’s a constant balancing act between being a bird devotee and a cat lover, but somehow, we manage both.

We Didn’t Want a Cat (For About 24 Hours)

In November 2025, we were away at a craft show. Friends were house-sitting and watching our cats, who love being outside that time of year. They left us a note mentioning the cats were scarce except for the orange one.

“ORANGE one? We didn’t have an orange cat!”

When I went out to fill the food dish, I found a small orange kitten tucked between the grill and the house. Sitting just 18″ from the bowl, he was perfectly positioned to guard the goods.

Brian and I agreed: we did not want another cat. That lasted about a day. When the temperatures dropped, I couldn’t leave that wee little thing outside. The food came inside, quickly followed by the kitten. He was definitely food-motivated. Did we have a Garfield on our hands?

Now, we had a wild kitten loose in the house. We couldn’t catch him, we couldn’t touch him—and we had another craft show right around the corner! Below is an early video of HiJinx.

Combat Points and Bandages

On the morning we left for the show, Brian and I finally cornered the wild thing behind the jelly cupboard. The plan was simple: I would distract him while Brian pounced from behind. There was some yelling, a bit of blood (Brian’s), and the kitten scored several combat points. Brian did manage to get him into the laundry room for containment, but he spent the craft show sporting a bandage around his thumb.

While we were gone, “Auntie Liz” visited every day. He spent those visits hiding between the hanging coats, acknowledging her only with hissing. Being a truly loving cat lady, she wasn’t deterred—she even bought him his very own case of wet cat food.

The laundry room is the main highway between our garage and the house, so the wild thing couldn’t stay there forever. I eventually managed to relocate him to the upstairs powder room—and I did it without any more blood. He quickly decided the sink was the premier spot for a nap. These smaller quarters made him feel much safer, and the “wild” started to fade. I was finally able to pet him, discovering he had a wonderful, motorboat purr. Turn your sound up to hear his purr!

A Girl Named Trudy? Not Exactly.

Our two house-kitties were terrified of the new arrival. Even though the little guy tried his best to befriend them, they just ran and hid. I started referring to the kitten as “The Little Intruder”. “Intruder” eventually morphed into “Trudy.” But after a couple of weeks, I noticed a certain body part that made it clear: “Trudy” wasn’t going to work. After much discussion with Brian, we settled on “HiJinx”. Of course, giving a cat a name like that is just asking for trouble!

Kitten Claw Acupuncture

As we got closer to HiJinx, we realized he was in rough shape. He was scrawny, his breath was terrible, and his mouth looked painful. One “fang” was missing, and another poked straight out. I was so relieved when we finally got him to the vet.

It turns out he had severe gingivitis. Knowing how much those teeth must have hurt, it’s amazing he ate dry food at all while he was living outside. Clearly, the hunger beat the pain.

While waiting for the official exam, the assistant helped me get him onto the table. The moment she stepped out, HiJinx decided I was the safest spot in the room. He crawled to the edge of the table, under my jean jacket, and climbed my back like a tree. Having experienced those kitten claws, I now have zero desire—ever—for acupuncture! When the vet returned, I was awkwardly hunched over the table so HiJinx could stay safely “hidden” on my shoulder.

Conestoga Vet Clinic was wonderful and fixed him right up. Brian and I had to “capture” him for ten days to administer his pills. We won those “discussions”… mostly. HiJinx had his shots and several bad teeth removed, leaving him with only one of his four “canines.” (Isn’t it a bit awkward that a cat’s fangs are named after dogs?) He also has a cleft lip, which means his tongue often pokes out. It is incredibly cute! Although, when he’s sleeping and his tongue sticks out, all he needs are little x’s over his eyes to look dead.

Clown of the Cat Kingdom

Hijinx just oozes personality. At night, he used to run around the bed like a car in the Indy 500—lap after lap after lap. Anything moving under the covers became huge entertainment for him. Whenever I walk through the house, I hear the thud-thud-thud of his paws racing to catch up or zoom ahead; there is absolutely no stealth with this cat!

We’ve discovered that HiJinx is an Abyssinian. They are often called the “Clowns of the Cat Kingdom” because of their high energy and constant need to be a part of whatever you are doing. I’ve found a few phrases online that describe him perfectly:

• They have the grace of an Olympic athlete and the judgment of a toddler with a sugar rush.
  
• Abyssinians take the “velcro cat” concept to a new level—they turn following you into a competitive sport.
  
• Watching an Aby watch a bird is like NASA tracking a satellite made of feathers.

Here’s recent video of HiJinx at play. Do I even want to try to understand how that little rascally kitty brain works?

When he’s finally tired, HiJinx can be a sweet lap cat. While Brian and I cozy up in front of the TV, he’ll snuggle for hours. Of course, right when we’re ready for bed, he wakes up! He provides “escort services” to the bedroom, gets a bedtime meal, and maybe gives me a few snuggles. Then, the house comes alive with pounding paws on the wood floors and ping pong balls ricocheting off the walls. We’ll occasionally hear a crash in the night, and by morning, the area rugs are usually skewed from him “riding” the carpet. But believe it or not, HiJinx comes when I call (usually). We all know cats truly have a mind of their own!

The Purr-fect Conclusion

So there you have it—the story of our one-fanged, carpet-riding, bird-watching manager! Life at AzarÉl Greetings is never quiet with a “master strategist” like HiJinx supervising the home, but he certainly keeps the inspiration (and the ping pong balls) flowing.

Next week, HiJinx will have to entertain himself during the day. Brian and I are heading to the Lehigh Valley Flower & Garden Show! We’d love to see you there, but if you can’t make it, you can always find more upcoming shows at this link. In the meantime, feel free to check out our unusual photography here. Whether it’s a bluebird on a vintage find or a squirrel with a “secret snack,” I promise the photos will make you smile—almost as much as a sleepy kitten with his tongue sticking out.