We're in the midst of the most severe drought we've experienced in France, and no rain in the forecast. So we're hoping it will rain cats and dogs. But in the meantime, lets talk the real thing: the many cats and dogs of France.I can't resist an annual post on my favorite subject: what the French call les animaux domestiques.
First up, the ladder climbing cat at left, Poes, the cat of our Dutch neighbors Frank and Marjo. Their story: one day a severely injured kitten turned up in their garden. Frank and Marjo kindly had it stitched up at the vet and left some food out on their terrace, while it healed.
"You've got a cat,", we, and our friends, told them. "Oh no," they both responded firmly. "We've never had a cat. We don't like cats." We all listened politely. "You've got a cat," we said.
Not a week had gone by before we started getting emails from them, with photos attached of said cat being absolutely charming. "Isn't she cute?" they gushed. Suddenly she had been given a name.
Update on the cat Poes: she now has his own fancy cat door, and an implanted chip that allows her exclusive use of it. She often sports a colorful bandana. She is much adored. This will be no surprise to anyone owned by a cat.
Next story: a friend and I were driving through a village when we came across these caged cats, below. We were appalled! Cats in a cage, out in the hot sun, quelle horreur! We quickly pulled over to investigate.
But take a closer look: one cage opens to the inside, through a hole in the glass, and there's an opening between the two cages. So in fact, this is a clever outdoor terrace for a couple of indoor cats! We think EVERY indoor cat should have one.
Below, some of the other cat and dog photos from this year.
Photo Below: French dogs usually sit politely under the table. This adorable chien is longing for a treat. Who could resist him?
Below: one day we wandered into a shop, and saw the resident cat, conveniently stored in a drawer. A perfect cat nest.
The Favorite Dog, below: Our friends Alix and Paul's dog, Mignon, is a world traveler and social media star. Here, a selfie in Cluny (with a little help from Paul).
In a French shop window, a happy kitty-kettle.
And finally, a catnap with my boy Domino, on our galerie.
A little French vocabulary:
cat: un chat
kitten: un chaton
kitty: un minou, une minette
dog: un chien
puppy: un chiot
Meow: miaou
Here, kitty kitty kitty! How the French call a cat: Mi mi mi!
In the COMMENTS: What lovely and thoughtful comments everyone left on the Charleston shooting, well worth a read. Duly noted: the deinstitutionalization of mental patients a few decades ago was and is a shameful plan which has left us with a huge homeless problem, and sometimes violence. Perhaps not in this case, but in many others.
12 thoughts on “It’s Raining Chats et Chiens”
Hi, Lynn,
I was just wising for your blog today and here it is! Wish we could have had some dry weather when we were last in France! Feast or famine! Wishing some rain to you and the farmers and vineyards!
Some friends of mine have a little dachshund which I call in French “mon petit chiot” being VERY careful to keep the “t” silent. With a non-silent “t”, it’s not a nice word!
Change spelling to “animaux” domestiques. 🙂 Your Domino could be a cousin to our Addison, whom we adopted along with her brother Sam at the local shelter. Pets add joy to life and these two climbers have helped declutter the house
It’s “animaux domestiques” by the way!
A bit more vocabulary. “Un toutou” translates as a doggie or a bow-wow and when le toutou barks, he says, “Ouah, Ouah”.
Oh how mignon! 🙂
Lynn,you have written some wonderful posts,but,WOW!This one is at the top of the list!
My favorite subject(chats et chiens!) and pictures that just capture our imaginations!
(love the one of you and Domino!)
(ps I tried calling our Twin Yorkies notre petite choux;they looked at me like,cabbages?
Are you kidding?Surely we are not that round!!! :):)
Here in the Southwest we,unfortunately,are extremely well acquainted with drought.It is terrible(and scary).
We have been enduring water rationing for over a year..Never mind the garden(save sink water in buckets for that),but not flushing toilets and ridiculously short showers are grim.
They predict El Nino this Fall( a deluge all Winter).That means flooding.Not a great solution to be sure.
Two days before leaving for France with our sons, I sent them to the pet store to get food for our cats at home. While still in my office, youngest son (Of course, the older of the two made the younger make the call. You know, the innocence of youth!) called to ask “hypothetically” what I thought about having two kittens. I said “hypothetically” I would be totally opposed to it. The result? Two days later, we left for France with my oldest son in charge of three adult cats and two kittens. Happy? Absolutely not. Fast forward 13 years, and the three cats are long gone; but Max and Spike remain the cats always in our hearts. The sweetest brothers ever. We lucked out despite the rocky start.
Thanks, Lynn, for the kick start on good memories.
Oh, and my condolences on the drought. We, too, of course, are in the middle of what seems an interminable lack of water. On fait ce qu’on peut.
Chris
California, too, is in the midst of a drought (fourth year) but here on the floor of the Napa Valley water supplies are good and the vineyards haven’t been affected. In fact, we’ve had amazingly good crops since 2010 and it looks like another is happening this year. Any little sprinkle is cause for celebration!
J’aime les animaux domestiques! Merci beaucoup! I especially like the cat terrace. Quelle bonne idee!
Our animal friends are such a blessing! Thanks for the memory of the caged cats en haut. I didn’t know of the drought en Bourgogne, but totally empathize as we suffer through our fourth year of drought in parched California. I long for a return to your corner of Burgundy–maybe next year.
I love your photos of these cats & dogs. That little Mignon is such a beautiful little thing. Thank you for such a bright & cheery post here & sharing these wonderful photos!