Victor walks through his home with the calm authority of a ruler. He’s sleek, proud, and convinced that every inch of the house belongs to him.
But even kings have weaknesses — and Victor’s just happens to be the size of a small fruit.
The Cat With a Secret Weakness
The moment he catches sight of a tangerine, all that confidence vanishes. His tail puffs, his steps freeze, and his wide eyes seem to say, “Not that thing again.”
For reasons no one fully understands, the scent and color of the bright orange fruit send Victor running.
His mom, Irene Olocco, learned this the hard way. Years ago, while unpacking groceries, she watched her bold cat turn into a trembling fluffball at the sight of a few tangerines rolling across the floor.
From that day on, she realized she’d discovered something remarkable — Victor’s one and only fear.
The Great Christmas Tree War
Like many cats, Victor has a long and mischievous history with Christmas trees. The twinkling lights, the hanging ornaments, the tempting shimmer — it’s all too irresistible.
Each December, Irene would set up the family tree, and each December, Victor would climb, swat, or pounce his way through it like a furry tornado.
No matter how many times she said “No,” or tried clever tricks, the same thing happened. Until one day, she remembered the tangerines.
That Christmas, Irene surrounded the tree’s base with a neat circle of tangerines — her very own “force field.” She didn’t expect much.
But to her surprise, Victor froze at the edge, stared in disbelief, and backed away as if the tree had suddenly grown fangs.
From that year on, the tangerine barrier became a family tradition. While other households relied on baby gates or sprays, Irene had discovered the perfect, natural deterrent.
It was harmless, festive, and — best of all — 100 percent effective.
“I almost feel bad,” Irene often says with a laugh, watching her cat glare suspiciously at the orange fruit. “But honestly, it saves the tree every single time.”
Victor vs. The Tangerine Force Field
Of course, no good system goes untested. Victor shares his home with two feline brothers, Gedeone and Ferdinand — neither of whom care at all about tangerines.
Gedeone is calm and uninterested in seasonal chaos, but Ferdinand loves to play.
Sometimes he’ll roll a tangerine just to watch it wobble away, unaware that he’s weakening the invisible barrier holding Victor back.
When that happens, chaos erupts. The second one tangerine slips out of place, Victor sees his chance. He dashes under the tree, eyes gleaming with triumph, ready to reclaim his festive battlefield.
But the victory never lasts long. Irene quickly restores the orange defense line, and Victor retreats once again, humiliated but still plotting his comeback.
Despite his yearly defeat, Victor never gives up. Each holiday season begins with hope and ends with the same outcome: the tangerines always win.
Somewhere deep down, though, Irene believes her cat secretly enjoys the drama — the yearly ritual, the playful rivalry, the story that repeats like a Christmas carol.
And maybe that’s the beauty of it. In a house filled with ornaments, laughter, and a faint citrus scent, a stubborn cat and his strange little fear have created a holiday memory all their own.
Every December, as the tree lights up, Irene smiles and lays out the tangerines — not just to save her decorations, but to honor the quirky tradition that makes their home so uniquely theirs.