(no subject)

Mac the cat sure got me good tonight. I was feeding them their nightly ration of canned cat food, and he didn't come when I called him. So I went upstairs to look for him, and found him on the bed, where he typically is at that time of the evening. He was awake and washing his paw. I called him and he ignored me. I went into the room and spoke to him, and he ignored me. I set the dish right down on the bed next to him and he ignored me. I reached out and touched him, and he startled, lashed out with his claws, sliced my hand right open, and jumped about a foot in the air. He almost instantly calmed down, though, and he happily jumped down and followed me back to the kitchen to eat.

I guess Michael is right about him getting deaf. And it's not just a little deaf - I was speaking very loudly, only a few feet away from him, and tapping the dish with a spoon. Even if he's a little deaf he should have known I was there. I wonder if the vet can do anything about it, or if it's just old age?