“Why We Love Paul: The Gray Grove Gremlin Who Yells At You”
No, she doesn’t hate you. She just communicates a little differently.
I’m half awake, headed to the Grove for my coffee and bagel, and am startled awake by an approaching “meeooWWWW”. Running out from seemingly nowhere, Paul has decided to join me for breakfast and has a lot to tell me about her week. I understand none of it because I don’t speak cat, but I’m grateful for the company.
I first met Paul during Homecoming Weekend in 2023. She showed up near a table by George Wilson Hall. I was editing some photos I had taken at the Orange and Black Ball when this scraggly gray cat with a bunch of fur missing hopped up on the table and started trying to eat my camera. I removed the camera from her possession and offered her some of the cat treats I keep in my bag for the campus cats. She refused the treats and meowed incessantly. I didn’t know she had a name, so I started calling her Canon.
The next time I saw Canon (or Paul), she was wandering around the Grove. Everyone seemed to have a shared understanding that this was “the grocery store cat,” and no one asked her to leave. This was when I first witnessed the “love/hate” dynamic she has with many of the students here, she meows and appears all cuddly, only to bite the unsuspecting victim when they try to pet her. She’s more of a “look, but don’t touch” kind of cat, and she’s not afraid to tell you.
An anonymous user of Fizz, a campus social media app, refers to Paul as a “freaky mean grey cat.” A poll on Fizz shows that only 10% of Fizz users think that Paul is the best campus cat, ranking third behind George (23%) and Fred (66%). I think she’s a great example of the concept that there are many ways to express friendship and affection, we don’t always communicate the same way, and that’s okay. Fred is more outgoing and LOVES to be petted, George likes treats and belly rubs, and Paul likes to sit and talk. I wasn’t sure if she liked me or not, until one day over the summer, I visited campus to do some remote work. I set my hammock up on the orange posts and started to make phone calls. I heard something move in a bush and saw Paul running over to me, excitedly meowing. She stayed with me for about an hour as I worked.
I think if Paul could talk, she would say she enjoys a good yap more than anything else. If you see her around, sit and ask her some questions. Tell her about your day. There are more ways to show the campus cats you care than just petting them. The other day, I sat and talked with her for a good ten or so minutes. Look at this happy face!
I love this underrated campus cat for her silly, crooked tail, her commanding meow, and her funky little attitude. I’ve talked with Paul about everything from midterms to crushes, she’s my most trusted confidant on campus. Next time she’s lurking outside the Grove, stop for a chat.