For the past week, we had a very cool house guest stay with us. His name is Bas, and he is the cat of Joe C. and Leah. They are in the midst of a big move, and since they recently found a new, pet-friendly place to stay, they were able to pick him up this afternoon. And I gotta say, I kinda miss the little guy.

It was a lot of fun having him here. He stayed in our bedroom, which is the only room in the apartment we could close off. We decided to move our bed into the living room and the couch and coffee table into the bedroom, because Homer and Patches sleep with us every night. We didn't want them to feel slighted at not being able to be in the room with us at night. We also didn't want Homer to howl the way he does when he can't find us. Therefore: furniture rearranging! It was a lot simpler than I expected it to be, actually.

The first two days, Bas hid under the couch. I laid on the floor next to him several times and put my hand near him. He'd sniff my fingers, then stare at me like, "Who are you, and why are you keeping me here?"

Tuesday night, though, he poked his head out from under the couch. That was the second time I'd seen him do that, so I encouraged him. "Come on, Bas!" I said. "Come on out!" And to my surprise, he did! Meg: Cat Whisperer.

He seemed astonished that all I wanted to do was pet him and had no plans whatsoever to subject him to horrible torture. Once he figured that out, he couldn't get enough of the cuddling! Purring, he rubbed his entire face into mine, over and over again. He even licked my arm! Very cute.

The following days, every time I came in the room, he'd hop onto my lap and climb up my chest. Or he'd lie upside down in my lap, and rub his face all over my hands. Bas also liked pawing at my face, placing his paw directly over my eye, or alternating paws as he kneaded my nose. Once he even spent a few minutes stroking my face with just one paw. I could hardly stand the cuteness of it all!

More funny Bas things: He liked to lick my lips, and sniff my nostrils. He'd put his paw in the collar of my shirt and pull his body up to my face for closer inspection. He'd cry whenever I got up to leave the room. He'd also wrap his paws around my arm while I scratched his head.

The only not so cute thing he did: He grabbed my leg and bit me whenever I tried to leave! Just a nip, but when you're not wearing pants - yowza!

During his stay, Joe C. and Leah came to visit him one night, and even treated us to Chinese takeout. We had a fun time hanging out with them! At first, though, Bas only sat on my lap and wouldn't go over to see them. I felt so bad! I was like, "Bas, go see your people!" Predictably, it was the couch he was in love with, not me. When Joe C. and Leah sat on the couch, he visited with them, too, and everyone was happy about that. After they left, I put Leah's sweatshirt (that she'd left for him to sleep with) on the couch, too. He'd previously ignored it on the floor, but after it was on the couch, it was his favorite sleeping spot. I can't say I blame him - I like the couch, too! Very comfortable.

Anyway, it was awesome having Bas here. He is incredibly affectionate and sweet, and a joy to care for. Love you, Bas!