Christmas

   Thanksgiving comes before Christmas.  But to retailers it seems to be passed by quickly.  They jump right into Christmas.  Even this year, Halloween seemed to be put on the back burner.  But then again, I started early Christmas shopping.  Waiting to the last minute puts a real financial burden on me.  Whether one shops early or shops late, depends on the individual.  Who cares when retailers start their ads and such?  For me, it is better to start early.  Where am I going with this?
     Christmas is truly a wonderful time of the year.  As we buy for family, friends, etc., let us not forget our four-legged member of the family.  Our cat has demonstrated all year long his/her loyalty and love for us.  At this time of year give a bag of treats.  Or better yet, hang a stocking filled with all kinds of cat toys.  After all, cats sometimes act like people, too.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to cats and cat lovers!

Not As Many

     There are not as many cat stories now to share.  The reason is simple.  We feed less than ten outside; whereas there once was around twenty to thirty.  We've seen cats die.  We've seen less coming.  We simply call them missing.  Surely something has happened to them for certainly they would not pass up a free meal.  With only a few female cats, kittens are less.  And if they manage to survive weeks, then some other death cause becomes them.  Whoever said there were so many strays out there could be wrong.  There was never a census paper filled out by them.  A stray cat has such a hard life.  He becomes victim to predators from the two-legged kind to the four-legged kind.  Whatever is his demise?  Whatever?  There do seem to be less at my house.                                           A cat is a beautiful animal.  He was put on this earth for a reason.  If I could, I would bring every cat inside for his safety.  But that is not possible.  I do wish there was more love for him by all.  I wish everyone could respect and love this harmless creature as I do.  As I sit here typing, one of my indoor cats is trying hard to get my attention.  I do love the feel of a cat's hair.  If taken care of properly, they are so soft.  They love the rub as well as I love to give it.
     My cat has won.  I discontinue writing for now and am reaching over to give her that love rub.  

Nibblerz

     This story is written by my eleven year old grandson, Adam.  


     On my eleventh birthday, God gave me a kitten.  I walked outside that morning with my mom and brother.  We found a friendly orange tabby.  He was so cute and cuddly, we decided to keep him.  We saved him so he won't go in the busy road.  He meows a lot and he is playful. We call him Nibblerz because he will nibble on your fingers and toes.

Hilarious Cat Episodes (2 0f 2)

     It was Thanksgiving.  After eating, the dishes could wait until tomorrow.  The food was put up.  There was a lot of turkey left.  But even cleaning it from the bone could wait until tomorrow.  The turkey was put in the refrigerator covered with aluminum foil.  
     I walked into the kitchen early the next morning.  There on the floor was the turkey I had put in the refrigerator the night before.  And there eating on the turkey was the culprit himself, who had somehow gotten the turkey out of the refrigerator.  It was our cat, Tiger. Before attempting the cleanup job, I stood there amazed.  How did that cat get the refrigerator door open?  The door itself had suction.  How he got in the refrigerator was a true wonder.  But there eating from the floor was proof he had gotten in somehow.  I found myself changing anger to laughter.  The turkey now was going to have to be thrown away. And so, I allowed tiger to keep eating.  It may have been seen as rewarding him.  But then again, he really deserved the turkey after the hard work he must have put into getting it.  I still laugh to this day about it.  Cats can do some of the funniest things...

Hilarious Cat Episodes (1of 2)

     It was back when residents had to furnish their own trash cans. They were easily turned over by animals.  Trash was then scattered everywhere.  Today's trash cans for my subdivision are furnished by the city.  We pay for the service through our taxes.  Getting into one of those sturdy furnished cans is hard for animals to access.  But then, my story is about way back when trash cans were easily accessible.  It brings about my first of two hilarious episodes.                    
    Tiger was an indoor and outdoor cat.  We never had him neutered.  Money was hard to come by then.  It is now too. Neutering was an expense back then that would take away from feeding and clothing my children.  So, Tiger went roaming when outside.  It was hilarious one particular day the children called for Tiger.  Down the street the domestic short-haired cat came.  He was dragging behind him an entire skeleton of a turkey with what meat was left on it.  He dragged it into the front yard and commenced eating.  The dragging it behind him was so- so funny!  It looked bigger than him.  But Tiger had managed to drag it home where he was then safe to eat it.  It left a picture that remains in my mind to this day.  It was so hilarious!

Coming up in July...

I've got to get caught up on some paperwork.  When I do, I will post another cat story coming up in July.

Sticky on Vacation

     It is said that absence makes the heart grow fonder.  My first story back, in my absence from submitting stories, begins with a story about Sticky.  Sticky was an outside cat.  He was diagnosed with leukemia which originally kept him from becoming an indoor cat.  But his latest visit to a vet had them saying he did not have leukemia.  After several attempts failed to get the indoor cats to accept him, he was destined to remain outdoors.  In previous stories I told of the house we built for this outside cat.  He slept inside it through a harsh winter.  The warm heating pad made life very comfortable for him.  But....two weeks ago a rough thunderstorm came through during the night.  Generally I can sleep through thunderstorms, but not this one. The thunder was so loud and terrifying that it woke me from a heavy sleep.  

     When morning came and I opened the front door, no Sticky was to be found.  He generally always comes to the front door when it is opened.  He gets his treats and food off and on all during the day.  The boy never has to search for food.  But this morning, Sticky did not appear.  His disappearance would go on for a week.  He had apparently been frightened off by that loud thunder that had scared even me.  How could Sticky survive out there after being handed his food since weaned?  Since it was a week gone, I wrote Sticky off as having used up all his nine lives.  Sticky simply was no more.  

     It was one week to the day that Sticky had disappeared.  My son was outside in the front yard.  He opened the front door calling to me, "Come outside!  I want to show you something!"  

     Immediately I went out the front door following him close behind.  There, to my surprise, was Sticky.  He looked the same as always.  There was no filthy coat.  There was no apparent weight loss.  It was like he had never been missing.  He went into his usual routine.  There was one minor change, though.  A metal rocking chair for me was on the front porch.  I sat in it often while watching Sticky eat.  It had a nice cushion in it.  Now I was about to find myself sharing the chair with Sticky.  He curled up in the chair and went to sleep.  

     I am glad Sticky is back.  I don't mind sharing my chair.  I am just so glad to have him back.  He was missed by both myself and my son.  His absence made us realize just how much we love him.  

     As my son says, "Sticky was just on vacation."