Characters:
There’s me, Lee, a lady cat. I’m the one
telling the story.
Mom and dad, my human parents.
Tom and Sukie, my best feline friends.
Woof, a visiting Persian kitten with a
daft name.
THE CATTERY AND OTHER MATTERS
Honestly, I’m miffed. This
morning I heard the dreaded word, Cattery.
That must mean Mom and Dad are going away. I can’t say I’ve heard any
conversations about going away but Cattery
can only mean one thing. I’ve only been there once and that was enough. I was
kept penned in a cage for hours and you know how much I dislike cages. I was only
let out a couple of times a day to scratch on an imitation tree. Not once was I
let out into a garden. Oh no, they believed in the residents using litter
boxes. Very humiliating! Have you ever
seen used cat litter? It’s disgusting. No amount of scratching or scraping will
completely hide what I’ve done. And to think mom and dad paid good money for my
incarceration.
My stay there seemed
endless. I had plenty of time to scratch my ears and damage the lino at the
bottom of the cage. The lady was nice, though, a bit on the large side but
quite gentle. She always wore a green apron that was ripped and badly stained.
When she handled my food she donned a pair of see-through gloves. I thought
that a bit odd since mom never wears gloves when she puts my food out; it made
me wonder what the Cattery lady was giving me. It could have been poison for
all I knew. I needn’t have worried, it
always tasted good and I was never sick after eating.
When she finished the
lady threw the gloves into a bucket and proceeded to give me some soothing
strokes down my back. I liked that. Her hands were so soft. One time when she
opened my cage I jumped on her shoulder. She was a bit startled but she didn’t scold.
Instead she put her hands up and moved me into position round her neck. Ooooh
that was super. I stayed there while she sorted my bedding. I’d got the straw in
a bit of a mess when I tried to make it more comfortable. Instead of smoothing
it out I’d got it in a tangle and I’d accidentally upset the water bowl into
the bargain. I tell you, it wasn’t very nice lying on wet straw.
Night time was best,
especially after a boring day. All the cats would join in a rousing chorus,
each one trying to outdo his neighbour. It was the best bit of being in a Cattery.
Funny, I never think to do that at home. No need, I suppose.
The cat in the next
cage to me was a bit of a looker. Handsome, with a sleek black coat and the
biggest and shiniest green eyes you ever saw. His name was Romeo, and I could
see why. When he turned those eyes on me I positively melted. The twins in the
opposite cage sat and gazed at him for hours. They were only just out of
kittenhood so it was understandable they’d go a bit goggle-eyed when Romeo
turned his striking eyes in their direction.
My howling partner was
a mangy looking cat with terrific street cred. The stories he told were
hilarious. He had various occupations, robbing dustbins being his speciality. I
couldn’t believe it when he described how he knocked the lids off bins to get
at the food. There’s never any food in our bin at home and, yes, I have looked.
I could hardly believe it when Chad, that was his name, told us about finding
fish heads and meat bones and stale bread. It made me wonder what sort of place
he lived in. It didn’t make me ever want to visit him.
Foxy was in the garden this
afternoon, scaring woodpigeons, or trying to ... they flew off pretty quick when
he appeared. He brought a yellow ball to play with, no doubt picked it up from
a local garden where children live. Somebody should tell him he’s thieving.
Those kids are probably wondering what happened to their ball. Naturally I scarpered
back to the house, well you never know with foxes, do you? You hear such tales.
The folks were enamoured by it, mom was almost drooling while she looked
through the window, almost dancing with excitement. Dad even fetched his camera
to take pictures. Come on, dad, why do you want pictures of a smelly old fox?
I’ve seen Foxy before.
Last time he was having a kip in the long grass. Mom keeps telling dad to get
the mower out but he’s a bit lazy when it comes to gardening. I don’t mind him
leaving it; it’s more fun for us cats to play in long grass. I have a special
hiding place in the old plum tree. It’s as dead as a dodo and covered with
creeping ivy but nobody ever thought to cut it down so I use it as my special
place. I feel like a queen up there.
It’s like being on
lookout duty when I’m up in those dead branches. I lie flat so I can see what’s
going on, out of sight of humans and birds. It’s a right laugh when birds land near
my nose. I only have to flick a whisker and they clear off a bit smart’ish,
squawking as only birds can. The blackbird’s the worst one for squawking. Talk
about loud ... he could deafen a chick with that raucous noise. I bet he could
hold his own in competition with the crows. Even I cringe when I hear him and
it takes a lot to make me shy away. If Foxy comes when I’m in my hidey-hole I
feel very safe. He could climb the tree but only so far. Anyway, I don’t think
he’d have the patience to step over all those little branches to get at me.
Generally speaking though, the best place is home when he’s around.
The people next door
but one used to keep white rabbits. Oh my goodness, am I so glad they don’t
have them anymore. Foxy would have a feast every day until Christmas. Anyway, I
couldn’t match them in whisker twitching so I never felt in control when they
were let loose.
Talking about
Christmas, mom’s sister had a belated gift. The story went that she had been
promised a kitten for Christmas but had to wait until it was born. I think it
was her birthday when he arrived, he being a Persian kitten with pure white fur
and a very unusual face. He’s lovely but doesn’t deserve to have been named ...
you’re not going to believe this, she called that kitten Woof. Have you ever
heard anything so stupid in your life? Imagine being out at night and hearing a
human calling the cat: Woof, Woof, come
on Woof. Wouldn’t you think it was a dog out there?
Going now to get a bit
more shut-eye. I do need to keep up with my beauty sleep. With a bit of luck I
might dream again of catching mice.
Meow!
haha a cat named woof....too funny...my cats have a love hate for when we leave....they get to play outside...but as soon as we get home they want to tell us all about how it was while we were gone....
ReplyDeleteValerie, this chapter was so cute and HILARIOUS!
ReplyDelete"The cat in the next cage to me was a bit of a looker. Handsome, with a sleek black coat and the biggest and shiniest green eyes you ever saw. His name was Romeo, and I could see why. When he turned those eyes on me I positively melted."
Bwhahahhahahahaha! Oh, that cracked me up!
Truly, dear lady, you have cats down to a tee.
Well done!
So looking forward to future chapters!
Have a super day....X
Hey Brian, have you written a poem about your cats? I'd loveto hear more. The name Woof is fact, by the way. I actually heard of a cat called Woof and I just had to use it... smiles.
ReplyDeleteHi Ron, Romeos get everywhere, don't they? When I read comments I go back and read parts of the chapter again... it wasn't as bad as I originally thought.
Loved it Valerie, you write with such great humor, loved the story, thank you.
ReplyDelete"And to think mom and dad paid good money for my incarceration."
ReplyDeleteOh man, out cat would have a conniption if we tried to board her when we go on vacation. She's still skittish around Tyler, and hisses whenever he gets too close. It's only been 2.5 years. I really wish she would just lighten up around him. Ah well...sigh.
And to think that Lee is willing to sit so patiently until birds land close by, then only swish his tail? That's one cool cat/customer :-)
Hi Herman, sounds as though your cat is jealous of Tyler. Be careful.
ReplyDeleteEven Tank Tank gives Feline Capers two paws up. I read it to him and he gave me his complete undivided attention. I was also wearing a pork chop suit.=) Great stuff, Val. Thanks again for entertaining us. Have a good one.
ReplyDeleteThis was adorable and funny Valerie! You have such a great wit. Your talent amazes me! I missed reading your delightful writing. I'm so glad that I'm back :)
ReplyDelete"The cat in the next cage to me was a bit of a looker. Handsome, with a sleek black coat and the biggest and shiniest green eyes you ever saw. His name was Romeo, and I could see why. When he turned those eyes on me I positively melted."and " I have a special hiding place in the old plum tree. It’s as dead as a dodo and covered with creeping ivy but nobody ever thought to cut it down so I use it as my special place. I feel like a queen up there."--Oh My! can't stop laughing..missed it for so many days..
ReplyDelete