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Archive for the ‘Pets’ Category

We started out with just this obnoxious feline – The Heinous Cat.

After he sent out open invitations to every other cat in the neighborhood to drop by his house for a good time, we ended up with this cat:

Maizy – also known as The Interloper – came to visit and still hasn’t left. After a year, I think she’s staying. At first, her presence greatly disturbed The Heinous Cat. He didn’t like her horning in on things. He wanted all the food, all the attention, all the space in my lawn chair for himself.

Despite his hissy fits, repeated attempts to lure her across the road and threats to her well-being, she continued to hang out in our backyard.

They seem to have reached an understanding, of sorts. Tolerating each other and not getting into a cat fight every time they get within spitting distance is new. Part of that may have been due to the fact The Heinous Cat was lost for twelve days and when he came home he was so glad to be there, he accepted The Interloper as part of the package.

She really enjoyed him being gone. The kingdom belonged to her without some annoying cat ridden by glandular issues smacking at her all the time.

“Mama, why did you let him come back? Wasn’t I good enough for you?”

Poor kitty.

I think the real reason they are getting along so well is in their joint efforts to shut out the latest addition to our backyard, The Mongoose.

A month or so ago, we were overrun with cats. As in there were eight of them in our backyard and I was not going to stand for it. After running them off repeatedly, this little guy kept sneaking back.

He’s terrified of everything, half-starved and completely pathetic. What were we to do? Especially since he looks like the love child of The Heinous Cat and The Interloper.

We named him Mongoose – Goose for short  – because of the way he bobs his head, lurks around corners and dashes around grabbing bites of food when he thinks no one is watching.

I would, however, like to issue this statement: The Hatfield Cat Farm is no longer accepting any new boarders, tenants or stow-aways.  If you have a feline, please ask them to pass this news along. We are full-up, at maximum cat capacity, and I will not willing take on another one. Nope. All done.

She who is Still a Dog Person, Not A Cat Person

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Just a few weeks ago, The Heinous Cat disappeared. I wrote about him coming home, much to our everlasting relief after being on the lam for 12 days.

Due to some very disturbing activity in our backyard the past few days, we’ve been wondering just exactly where he went and what he did while he was gone.

In just the past two days we have counted six, that’s right, SIX,  stray cats trying to make themselves at home. At first we thought we were seeing things, but nope, a head count revealed six extra cats. All big and way too friendly to be wild.

With The Heinous Cat and Miss Maizy, we really don’t want any more cats around, but the drop-in guests have been a bit reluctant to leave.

We are wavering between two theories.

1. The Heinous Cat was tired of only having Miss Maizy to swat at and be mean to so he went on a crusade to recruit some new blood. He told them it was a real happening party at his house, offering up incentives to get them to come. Unfortunately, his new recruits could all slap him into next Thursday without even blinking.

2. The Heinous Cat got lost and at every house he came to he told the resident cat about how much he missed his home and his Mama and his Captain Cavedweller. He cried about how they took such good care of him and he just wanted to find his way back home. It got the cats he talked to thinking about checking out some digs where all they are expected to do is eat, sleep and occasionally wander over for a nice back rub or head pet and they decided to come check it out.

3. Someone had way too many cats and decided to drive out in the country and dump them and they somehow ended up at our house.

Yeah, I’m going with theory number one myself.

Anyone need six stray cats?

She Who Doesn’t Like Felines Enough to Need Eight of Them

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I know I promised Valentine-themed posts all week, so I hope you’ll pardon this interruption…  but our kitty came home!

The Heinous Cat went missing twelve days ago. As in nowhere to be found. As in gone. As in two heart-broken adults who missed his fuzzy little being quite dreadfully.

Yesterday, my neighbor let me know that her daughter thought she saw the cat in the “nature area” behind her school. On our way home from work, Captain Cavedweller and I went to the school and stomped around in the dark looking for the cat for a good thirty minutes. It was freezing outside, which would be why when I said “we” I mean “he,” while I sat in the car and kept watch.

Disappointed when no cat turned up, we went home. Moping, Captain Cavedweller opened the back door to feed Miss Maizy, the cat who lives at our house part time, and there sat The Heinous Cat. We were beyond thrilled. I’d even go so far to say Captain Cavedweller looked like a kid who just got the best Christmas present ever.

The Heinous Cat was skinny and filthy, but not too much the worse for wear for his wild adventures. His Mama would really like to know where he has been for nearly two weeks, but the stubborn little feline isn’t talking.

We’d also love to know how he got home. I’ve yet to connect with our neighbor to see if we are forever in their debt.

However it happened, we are just really glad the cat is back home. He has been grounded, scolded, petted, cuddled and told he can never go off wandering again. We hope this time he’ll listen.

She Who Is Glad to Have the Cat Back

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Maybe because it is cold and rainy outside today…

Maybe because I’ve got a walloping case of the Monday blues…

Maybe because The Heinous Cat has been missing for five days now and Captain Cavedweller and I are more than a little concerned about his return…

I need some happy.

So here are some quotes that lifted my spirits a bit.  I hope they lift yours as well.

Even if happiness forgets you a little bit, never completely forget about it.  ~Jacques Prévert

If you want to be happy, be.  ~Leo Tolstoy

The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.  ~Mark Twain

Happiness is always a by-product.  It is probably a matter of temperament, and for anything I know it may be glandular.  But it is not something that can be demanded from life, and if you are not happy you had better stop worrying about it and see what treasures you can pluck from your own brand of unhappiness.  ~Robertson Davies

Those who can laugh without cause have either found the true meaning of happiness or have gone stark raving mad.  ~Norm Papernick

What a wonderful life I’ve had!  I only wish I’d realized it sooner.  ~Colette

The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; the wise grows it under his feet.  ~James Openheim

Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn’t know you left open.  ~John Barrymore

 

Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.  ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.  ~Abraham Lincoln

Happiness is a form of courage.  ~Holbrook Jackson

A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery while on a detour.  ~Author Unknown

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.  If you want to be happy, practice compassion.  ~Dalai Lama

Happiness held is the seed; happiness shared is the flower.  ~Author Unknown

There is no cosmetic for beauty like happiness.  ~Lady Blessington

The best vitamin to be a happy person is B1.  ~Author Unknown

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