A CAT STORY

OR

How It Is That I Am In Danger Of Becoming

THE CRAZY CAT LADY

 OR

A TALE OF FOUR CATS

This is Dash.  Once upon a time, about 8 years ago, we found ourselves suddenly completely without any animals or children underfoot.  The remedy was a trip to a cat rescue shelter in Sinsheim. Germany.  A woman there had a house that she had mostly turned over to the rescue and care of cats.  When we arrived she had 97 (!!) cats.  When we left, she had 96 and we acquired Dash.  He has been a delightful pet (most of the time) and was a terrific "battle buddy" while Layden was in Iraq.  But, while we were living in Louisiana, he became accustomed to an occasional hunting excursion in the great outdoors.  Fun while it lasted, but living on the 16th floor in an urban neighborhood doesn't allow for that.  He got a bit depressed.  What to do?  Get another cat?  Not a realistic plan here.  But, then we learned about....

...Selva.  She had been living at the vet clinic in a little kennel for about 9 months, was unadoptable, and her future looked grim.  So, we volunteered to become foster parents.  It took about 3 months to get her used to household noises, handling by humans, and spaces bigger than 2x3 feet.   Dash was happy to have a playmate.  The venture was a success, and Selva Belle found a home.  Which left Dash without a pal.  But...

...No worries!  There was a little black 9-month old kitten who was very wild and in need of a soft place to land.  So we brought her home.  She hid in the smallest, darkest places she could find, so we named her Heidi.  A new friend for Dash and a good deed for the universe.

So far this is a simple story, but then things got a little complicated.  Selva Belle's family acquired a lovely new sofa, to which Selva Belle took an immediate and persistent dislike which she expressed in rather an unpleasant fashion.  Her people we not amused.  They wanted to take her back to the vet, but it was the weekend, so....you can see this one coming...they called me and I took her back.  Yup - 3 cats.  Everywhere you look you will likely find a cat.

On top of furniture

Under furniture

IN furniture

And even, once in a while, on their own designated cat tree

Feeding time is rather a frenzy.  They curl and weave around Layden's feet.  I have taken to calling them 

The Wraiths. 

 Note giant bag of cat litter.  An unending task, much like diapers, which must be done several times a day.

Note colors of cats - what we have here is a confectionary of cats - toffee, licorice, and marshmallow.

Someday (very VERY soon, Layden hopes) we will perhaps be back to just one furry creature underfoot.  In the meantime, he is most patient with all these animals, and can occasionally be found doling out cat treats, which makes him quite the favorite human.

And the 4th cat?  That would be me, born under the sign of Leo.

Anybody want a cat?