Or when the milk is missing

So I am very tired and sleeping very poorly these last few days and I made myself a very large mug of warm goat's milk to drink while reading a book on the couch.

And all of a sudden there were cats. Little cats with questing noses and importunate paws, reaching out plaintively to touch the mug as if to tell me to lower it just a little, thanks. And little furred shoulders curving as little cat heads tried to stick themselves into the mug. And wide green and gold eyes, tracking every single movement the mug made as I tried to hold it out of reach of the very intent cats. And paws. And purring. General interest, is what I am trying to say here.

I went into the kitchen and poured a half-cup of goat's milk into a smaller mug and warmed it and poured it into the little glass dish we don't have a real use for. Sleek black cat-shapes circled the floor around me like small furry sharks. (They actually remind me of sharks fairly often, gliding beneath chairs and the overhanging shadows of futons and other furniture. It's very attractive.) I took the dish of warm milk into the living room and put it down on the splat mat between their bowls of water and food. I clicked my tongue to let them know it was edible.

The sound of lapping was loud in the land.

I did not take any pictures. I was too busy smiling. It's a small dish, so they took turns drinking, much more loudly and busily than they usually do with water. There was some grooming to take care of milk-spatter. To date they've gone back for thirds. derspatchel even checked the internet to make sure that goat's milk is healthy for kittens (which apparently it is. I just figured that since it's easier on the human digestive system, there was a decent chance it would not be subject to the same stringent warnings as cow's milk when we adopted the cats). I suspect I shouldn't feed them milk every day, but so far it's working as a treat. I haven't seen any vomiting, which is what the last dietary experiment led to. And they were so happy. Autolycus is settled half on the computer, half on my lap as I type.

I like these cats.