The Black Cat
Picture this. It was Monday morning, about 10 a.m. I had gotten up, dressed, and, for once, was ahead of schedule. So I lounged across my bed, two Schnauzers curled up beside me, and fell back asleep reading an intriguing Stuart Woods mystery. Unusual.A bit later, I snapped up, wide awake on the bed. The Schnauzers, terriers that they are, were running back and forth from bed to the back window, howling and barking. I looked up.
A black cat is hanging from the screen. Whose black cat? How? Why? Where? Brain not functioning on all cylinders.
I jumped up and went to the window as the cat hissed, slide down the screen, careened across the room, hid behind the couch, then up on my husband’s bookshelf of baseball memorabilia. Balls, small framed “historic” baseball cards, and photos tumbled from the bookcase across the floor as the two dogs continued to run back and forth challenging the now snarling cat.
(**Thank you to the appropriate folks for these cartoons which showed up on various Google sites)
I jumped up and went to the window as the cat hissed, slide down the screen, careened across the room, hid behind the couch, then up on my husband’s bookshelf of baseball memorabilia. Balls, small framed “historic” baseball cards, and photos tumbled from the bookcase across the floor as the two dogs continued to run back and forth challenging the now snarling cat.
In typical Schnauzer fashion they came to me when I called their names sternly. They did NOT, however, let up on the barking.
Max (aka Mad Max) looked at me like “are you kidding? There is an alien in this room.”
New puppy Bogey, taking the lead from Max, in his surprisingly deep raspy voice continued his howling. I could hear the cat, hissing, scratching at the back of the couch, but not visible.
I corralled the “boys” downstairs and into their cage. Not happy. OH, NOT HAPPY. Yes, they are fairly well-trained and did deign to go into the cage, but the barking continued. It is now just after 11 a.m. and I have a noon doctor’s appointment. Of course, as luck would have it, the husband was gone for the day. I phoned my brother-in-law with a plea for help as he lives just up the hill. Thank you, Willis.
After getting a chuckle from my dilemma, he sends his daughter down to help. She’s an animal lover, a gardener, a nature girl. Thanks, Jessica, for the quick response. In a quiet manner, she went upstairs. I heard furniture moving. Soon, Jess appeared with the demon black cat clutched to her chest and shoulder. The furor was over. As Jess went outside she released said cat who took off across the field. (This is where I could say, “Curiosity killed the cat,” but we know they have nine lives!)
After getting a chuckle from my dilemma, he sends his daughter down to help. She’s an animal lover, a gardener, a nature girl. Thanks, Jessica, for the quick response. In a quiet manner, she went upstairs. I heard furniture moving. Soon, Jess appeared with the demon black cat clutched to her chest and shoulder. The furor was over. As Jess went outside she released said cat who took off across the field. (This is where I could say, “Curiosity killed the cat,” but we know they have nine lives!)
I do believe this event took a year or two off my life. I know for sure my pulse was racing. I do not like cats. I did not grow up with cats. Cats too often have fleas. Cats do not come when called. Cats rule people. I prefer to be the “alpha dog” among the four-legged animals in our house.
This is not, however, to say I am innocent in all of this. I had left the patio door ajar while I showered and dressed. The invisible fencing to keep pets in a defined space is a wonderful invention. AND both dogs had gone out, ripped and raced, done their doggy business and had come back in. They were with me on the bed. To go downstairs and close the door did not enter my mind. My mistake!
The black cat (and I think his eyes were glowing green) is our first four-legged UNINVITED visitor. We have, since Christmas gift Bogey, had brought a number of birds, voles, and mice to the patio--as gifts, perhaps. That’s what terriers do. They were bred as ratters and they love to root and dig.
This is not, however, to say I am innocent in all of this. I had left the patio door ajar while I showered and dressed. The invisible fencing to keep pets in a defined space is a wonderful invention. AND both dogs had gone out, ripped and raced, done their doggy business and had come back in. They were with me on the bed. To go downstairs and close the door did not enter my mind. My mistake!
The black cat (and I think his eyes were glowing green) is our first four-legged UNINVITED visitor. We have, since Christmas gift Bogey, had brought a number of birds, voles, and mice to the patio--as gifts, perhaps. That’s what terriers do. They were bred as ratters and they love to root and dig.
Bogey is also a jumper. He can snatch a low flying bird out of the air. Beautiful that we have so many cardinals around, but sad that they are easy to catch. They seem to be Bogey’s favorite. He doesn’t eat them--I think he just wants to play?!?
The animal v human score at the White’s is not equal. Birds lose, cats are not welcome, and the two white 20-pound dogs rule. Sad, perhaps, and a little bit funny, but true.
The animal v human score at the White’s is not equal. Birds lose, cats are not welcome, and the two white 20-pound dogs rule. Sad, perhaps, and a little bit funny, but true.
Dog lover and somewhat Savvy Glenne**
(**Thank you to the appropriate folks for these cartoons which showed up on various Google sites)
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