Behind the Eight Ball

Inside our den, we had a regulation pool table.  The children saw something in it; although we did not allow them to play pool.   What they saw was a cute name though.  It became obvious when we went in search of a kitten.  There among the litter was a black tabby male cat.   The feature that stood out most on him was his white spot on his neck.  And so; the children named him Eight Ball.  We never got him neutered.  He stayed outside.  He was a male, but seemed to seldom wonder off.  He played with the children.  It was in the early eighties and the subdivision did not have that many strays.  I guess this was an era before they started being abandoned as much.  It was a time before the cat population grew.  Or at least; it did look that way.

It was lunch time and my three children wanted to eat in the garage.  We kept the large garage door open.  The table they would eat on was a yellow plastic table with four chairs.  It was sturdy and so I agreed to bring their food to them.  I even got an invitation to join them as they ate their macaroni and cheese.  Macaroni and cheese was their favorite dish and still is today.  I had no complaints as it was easy to make.  But I declined their invitation and kept busy in the house as they ate.  Once finished eating, back to play they went.

I took no time heading out to clean up behind them.  I was startled by what I saw.  There in the middle of the table where the children had just eaten their lunch laid a snake.  It was motionless; but still very much alive.  I picked up a shovel leaning against the wall close by and somehow managed to get it upon it.  Walking slowly to the edge of the yard, I tossed that thing.  The children, looking on, laughed and together began to speak,  “You came in behind the Eight Ball.”

“I did what?”
           "We saw Eight Ball drop the snake on the table.” 
            I never knew cats would catch snakes.  But when sharing the story with friends, I was told cats do bring owners snakes.  It was a small snake and cats do like those small creatures.  Recently, my son noticed the stray cat Skillet coming across the street to eat food we put out.  Inside her mouth, she carried a small snake.  But when my son crumbled together a bag of treats, she dropped it and came running.  The treats apparently were more appetizing. 

I will never forget that day in that garage when I saw that snake.  I laugh to think, I truly was behind the Eight Ball on that one.

A Cat's Tale

If I could get inside a cat’s head, what I would learn.  For a brief moment, let’s pretend I am inside a stray cat’s head. But it is not just any stray cat.  My name is Fuzzy Wuzzy.   I will now put my every meow to words?  As a human inside a cat’s head, I hope to understand everything Fuzzy goes through? 

Fuzzy Wuzzy was a cat,

Nothing more than that.

Here now begins a tale,

Of this one outside male.

 “I am so hungry today.  I hope someone puts out food for me.  I search for food daily.  I don’t always find.  I have heard from other cats that there’s a lady up the hill that puts out food.  I’ll mosey on up and check her out,” says a weak Fuzzy.

 And sure enough, the lady is putting out food for strays.  There are several bowls.

“Wow, I can have my pick,” exclaims Fuzzy.

There are about ten cats ahead of him.  Unfamiliar with the area, Fuzzy waits and watches.  He is hungry, but still survival sits in.  He must play it safe.  “I’ll wait and if nothing happens to any of them, I’ll make my move.”

            While Fuzzy waits, the lady comes out once more.  She puts out more dry food and fresh water.  With the wet food already out, there’s more than enough to feed them all.  The cats during that time scattered.  They return after she once again enters the house.  Fuzzy stays hid between the corners of a shed just watching.  If there is one thing a stray cat learns, it is to be cautious of any human.  He’ll have to earn your trust.  This lady is on the right track.  She seems kind.  But since a stray cat never felt the human touch as a kitten, he remains wild for now.  One by one each cat finishes eating.  They’re off to clean themselves.

“I’ll eat now,” shouts Fuzzy.”  He crawls ever so slowly to the first bowl of food.  He remains in a slow and crouch position.  He is ready to flee if something unsafe draws his attention.  He constantly is looking over his shoulder.

“Boy, this was some good food,” says a Fuzzy as he licks his lips.  He looks around and to his surprise he sees the lady looking out of the den door.

 “She’s winking her eyes at me,” he says to himself.  “I guess she’s trying to talk to me.  Okay lady, I liked the food and yes, I’ll be back again.”

 Fuzzy crawls off and cleans himself.  After a trip to the outside litter box supplied by Mother Nature, he finds a safe and cozy spot for napping.  Up later from nap finds him roaming.  There are numerous distractions.  A barking dog has a chase commencing with him and up a tree goes Fuzzy.  He remains there until the dog gets bored and goes on his way. He jumps down from the tree always landing on his feet.

 “Ouch!  What was that?”

Two boys home from school are throwing rocks.

            “You go that way and I’ll go that way,” says one boy to the other.  But Fuzzy outsmarts his predators and escapes by running across the street barely being missed by a moving car.  The boys now have lost interest and Fuzzy is free to continue his roaming.  This is usual day for a stray cat.  Every moment is spent using survival techniques.

 Fuzzy returns again in the afternoon to see if the lady has put out more food.  He learns her routine of feeding times twice a day.  As long as the food continues, Fuzzy will become a frequent visitor.  He notices a few cute female cats.  A sniff here and a sniff there and Fuzzy’s offsprings are on the way.

“What have I done with my life?” asked Fuzzy.  “I am a big grey long-haired tabby cat.  I am big in stature; yet slender in weight.  My coat is missing patches of hair. I wash myself and others sometimes assist me.  But yet, I carry debris caught in my hair.  I have fleas.   I really have no regrets; except maybe one.  Although I am independent, I never had the love of a human.  I have had many hardships in my life. Although I will never become an indoor cat, I am seeing a human who may actually love me.  She shows it with every parcel of food put out.  Finally, there’s someone who cares.”