Why I Have Cats -- Photos Added
I am watching a neighbor’s animals. She takes care of the E’s when we go out of town.
Normally, it is just the little-bit-insane cattle dog named Cowboy, the assorted (15!) birds, a cat or two. The turtles are self-sufficient and she got rid of the chickens.
This time, Jumbo, the miniature Chihuahua was left at home too.
I left ten minutes early this morning. All I had to do was let the two dogs out of their crates and outside for the day. Major feeding takes place at night. I had put them into their crates last night. How hard could this be?
First mistake. I let Jumbo…no plucked Jumbo out of her nest in her crate and, despite her yapping and nipping, put her outside. Now for little-bit-insane Cowboy. Opened his crate – “outside!” He did his hysterical run….but the outside door was closed (with the little face of Jumbo peeking in…) so instead a lap around the first floor and back up stairs and into his crate. A few of these and I realized I would need to open the back door and herd him out it. Which meant Jumbo would come in. Okay….got that done. Cowboy successful outside. Jumbo in. Now Jumbo gets under a bed…yapping… snapping and barking. The first time I almost had her she “squirted” on the sleeve of my silk blouse (as I am lying on my back on the floor trying to squeeze under the bed.) She got away. I could NOT find her. How embarrassing….I am looking under every bed…in all the closets (what a nosy neighbor they will think I am!)
Up, down calling for the thing. All the while the also-little-bit-insane cat is staring at me. And I am starting to wheeze and sneeze from all the birds.
Finally found it under the dining room table. Another chase…had her cornered in the family room but could not get to her. I was so afraid of how tiny she is and fearful of grabbing her too hard or the wrong way. Back upstairs but this time I had her cornered. Threw the towel over her and outside we went.
I was on my way 25 minutes later. They will be gone all week…..
