every day, barely awake
two hours before feeding time
guess he had a bad dream
i can relate.
i step out of bed
my last hours stolen
here we go again.
chapman my cat screams bloody murder
"neow" he says
i swear he’s evolved.
dominance is needed
sustenance is power
didn’t you know?
he follows every step
trips me at every turn.
to me, it’s like he never learns
but maybe this is learning?
maybe he’s afraid i’ll forget.
he’s probably right
but we’ll never know.
i’ve rarely missed a feeding entirely
three times a day
for eight years
and he won’t let me start now.
so he weaves through my feet
a shadow, a force
a cute, furry menace.
seven whole hours without nourishment
poor guy
if he doesn’t eat now, this is it
death is imminent.
to the bowl
the counter, the fridge
oh, damn
needs a new can.
other side of the kitchen
high risk
every move a gamble
ankle bite imminent.
to the cupboard—
if i dodge him now,
he’ll just get me later.
fuck it
i let him bite
still half-asleep.
back to the counter
into the bowl
onto the floor.
mission accomplished
bounty secured
no blood drawn.
a quarter cup of extortionate vet food
same shit, every day.
still, he devours it
like he’s never tasted umami before.
face buried in the bowl
snorting it? chewing it?
hard to say for sure
but he sounds very satisfied.
back to bed i go.
(march 2025)
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© 2025 DISTILLIST.