Saturday ritual with Glossy Bob

From whisker strokes to maximum pettage

Glossy Bob and I have a morning ritual. After he’s had a little breakfast, he jumps up on the bed for a little arm time.

Bob was properly weaned as a kitten but he likes to spend a little time with the inside of my right forearm in the mornings. Sometimes he’ll suckle a little bit but mostly he‘ll make biscuits. This will go on for about 10 minutes until he’s sated, then he’ll just press his furry forehead to the soft flesh of my inner arm and purr deeply.

When he’s in his satisfied state, I love to lift his head with my left hand and stroke his muzzle, his whiskers and along his jaw with just my finger tips. Reverently. I’ll tell him he’s the bestest Bob in the whole world. There’s no better Bob than my Bob. That I love my Bob.

And he’ll turn his little face into my caresses. Eyes half lidded with pleasure. Directing my fingers to where he wants them to go. Purring and a deep sigh. He can release to me fully.

I can feel his body opening to my touch and often I can run my right hand down to the soft fur of his belly, other hand stroking down the length of his spine. This is part of the maximum pettage, slow swirling strokes the length of his body, up and down from his throat and shoulders to the base of his belly. He likes to roll slightly, offering his belly to me, with a full deep purr.

It’s important to use both hands so he feels fully enveloped, fully embraced. Two hands are love. One would just be “lo”.

When Bob has had enough, he’ll move to wash himself. A paw, an ear, and I understand that today’s session is complete. It’s so gratifying to start my mornings in this way, with trust and reverence and deep pleasure. Bob gives me such a gift in these mornings. So simple, the deep communication between two bodies.

The gift of pleasure, given and received.