Clean Cat?

What cats do for much of their life – Besides eat, sleep and cause us strife! – Seems to be trying to get clean As they so regularly preen

Some days for hours and hours on end Our cat washing himself does spend He doesn’t ever get to stop As he returns back to the top!

Reflex action, inbuilt routine He seems to think it makes him clean Tongue out, paw past, tongue in, rub paw Then repeat the process once more!

He lick, lick, licks upon his paw Then rubs it all around his head He lick, lick, licks himself some more Often in readiness for bed

He stretch, stretch, stretches – tries to reach As he cleans all over with care He stretch, stretch, stretches underneath Then lifts his legs up in the air

Reaching for places far and wide Rocking himself from side to side There’s always somewhere else to get Will his target ever be met?

First one leg and then the other Guess he learnt how from his mother He needs to get between his toes It’s amazing where his tongue goes

Nibbling out the old bits of fluff Plus grime and dirt and other stuff Straining over to reach his back He somehow seems to have the knack

Sometimes he gets such a bad twitch He needs to clean away that itch And he can wash whilst he’s asleep Although he may not in time keep

Rhythmic, routine rubbing Wetting, washing, wiping Licking, lifelong lapping Smoth’ring, slobb’ring, snorting

Washing himself most everywhere Ensuring he does all his hair This is how he freshens his fur Making a most contented purr

He washes for many an hour But not using a bath or shower So without fresh water or gel ‘Tis no wonder that he does smell!