rival

A sleek black Oriental Shorthair cat, Franzi, sits proudly in the foreground wearing a colorful birthday hat, looking smug and victorious. In the background, a dramatic feline scene unfolds: another Franzi perches regally on a chair, bathed in golden light, while Schmutz flops on the floor in exaggerated defeat. Scattered birthday hats and treats hint at a recently concluded feline coup

The Birthday Coup: Franzi’s Rise to Power

For years—which, given my tender age of two, is impressive—I have suffered a great injustice. Every birthday, the humans celebrate us, yet somehow, Schmutz always takes center stage. The crooked tail. The dramatic leaps. The way she effortlessly commands attention just by
October 4, 2024