Visiting the Neighbors

   
                We try to be good pet owners.  We make sure the cats’ vaccinations stay up-to-date and have each one fixed (we really don’t need a litter of kittens).  There is one thing that we do that many people disapprove of and we certainly don’t recommend to others.  We let our cats loose outside.  Yes, we know this could end in heartache if they try to take on traffic or get kidnapped or lost.   The thing is, no matter how hard we try, we just can’t keep our escape artists inside so we give up trying and let them live active outdoor lives.  We are rotten examples of responsible pet owners, so please don’t do what we do.

Jersey stares down the neighbors in their kitchen

                That said, the cats’ outdoor antics do lead to interesting stories.  Last week one of my new piano students, who hadn’t met all the cats yet, was leaving lessons just as Toby came sprinting across the street.   “Hey, I know that cat—he came into church with me last week.”    Toby is apparently Baptist.

                That wasn’t the first time we had cats explore inappropriate areas.  Once we lost Finny for the better part of a weekend.  He had wandered into the construction company office across the alley and apparently fell asleep and got locked in.  Sunday morning we were frantically combing the neighborhood when we heard a meow coming from the building.  I peeked in the door’s small window and there was Finn.  Being a small town, we knew the owners would be at mass for a while longer so Finny would have to wait for his rescue.  Later, when the owner showed up with the keys, he said, “Oh yeah, this little fella.  He comes and talks to us every day.”

                The library construction project is a block away—I wonder if any of the clowder has checked it out  yet.