I snorted a laugh as Kaspian got out. I climbed out next and shook my head at the cat who was sitting calmly on the castle steps, waiting for us. “Look at him.”
“I guess he's claimed you.” Kaspian took my hand and led me up the steps. “Be warned, Cat. I claimed him first. He's mine.”
“Now, you're talking to him.” I nudged Kaspian's shoulder with mine.
He nuzzled my cheek and whispered, “Only to amuse you.”
The cat fell into step beside us, head lifted as if he knew he was a guest of the King. I grinned at it. My first pet and he was something special. It was turning out to be a great day.
“We're going to need a litter box, food and water dishes, and a bed,” I said.
“What is a litter box?”
“You know, for Cat to do his business in?”
“His business?” Kaspian nodded absently at the courtiers as we passed.
“Poop.”
“And we're back to your fascination with shit.” Kaspian snorted a laugh. “I'm sure he will find a spot in one of the gardens.”
“I am not fascinated with shit. We're taking him up to your apartments and as far as I know, there aren't any gardens up there.”
Kaspian blinked.
“I don't think he'll be able to use the elevator. I mean, the lifter.”
“There are stairs as well.”
“And what if he's upstairs and decides he'd rather poop on the couch than go downstairs to find a garden? When you gotta go, you gotta go.”
“Huh.” Kaspian looked over his shoulder at his knights. “What do people with cats do about their defecation?”
The knights looked at each other and shrugged.
One of them said, “I had a cat once, but he went outside for that.”
“Perhaps the gardeners could make a patch of grass—”
“Let me stop you right there,” I interrupted Kas. “Cats bury their shit. That's why you need litter in a box. Thus, a litter box. Litter can be anything from sand to ground-up walnut shells.”
“Walnut shells?”
“Yeah, they use granulated clay too, because it absorbs the piss.”
Kaspian stopped walking. “This is why I've never had a pet. It's too complicated.”
“How is a cat shitter complicated? It's a box with sand in it. Surely someone can find one of those. Dogs are way more work. You have to walk them when they need to go.”
Kas started walking again. “Someone tell the steward to gather cat items—a box with sand, a water dish, and whatever else he thinks we might need.”
“What about a food dish?” I asked.
“The cooks will send his food up with ours.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“We'll take him to my private garden for now. It's right below my apartments so he can come upstairs when he wishes.”
