Why I Have Cats -- Photos Added

[Edwina's Secretary]

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…..

[caseysmom]

Exactly why I have had one vacation in 6 years without my dogs!!!

[pomtzu]

So much for leaving 10 minutes early...............

[Husky_mom]

hahaha.... sorry but I had to laugh.. picturing you lookin frenetically for Jumbo... hahahaha.....

I bet tomorrow you´ll let Cowboy out first then Jumbo...

is there a way you can carry Jumbo´s crate out... so he´s out but can get back to his crate if he wants to?... just a thought...

15 birds?!!.. wow... wonder what kind they are... hmm...

[jennielynn1970]

Oh to be a fly on the wall in that house while all of that activity was going on!!

[Randi]

"All you had to do....." LOL! I can picture the scene, you coming in there gently telling them it's time to come out, and then later... you crawling around on the floor and running up an down the staircase. It will be a long week!

Cats definately are easier!

Good luck!

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

What a hilarious post !! I can almost visual it!!

I love the name for the chihuahua: JUMBO !!

LOL

[lvpets2002]

Oh to be a fly on the wall in that house while all of that activity was going on!!

WoW my thoughts to the Tee.. Do you think you could Video Tape all of this.. I am laughing my butt off.. Oh yes I too got a kick out of the small dog named Jumbo.. Due to bigg ears right..

[Alysser]

LOL!

If I was in your situation I wouldn't know whether to laugh or cry

[chocolatepuppy]

lmao! ES, that sounds like a typical day at my house! I have three dogs and two cats and many times I have said,
"I wish I was a cat lover only"

[Pam]

Thank you for the big smiles this morning. What a mental picture I have! If your neighbors have surveillance cameras hidden in the house they will be laughing hysterically when they return I'm sure! LOL! I hope that each day things get a little easier as the pets get used to you coming and going. I too love the name Jumbo! LOL!

[lizbud]

Oh wow, how lucky can you get? All week huh?

[sirrahbed]

This post gave me the fits laughing!! I have the funniest visual in my head This spring hubby and I were staying with friends and two of the days agreed to "let the dogs in and out" while the friend went out of town. She told us all we had to do was speak sternly and authoritatively and they would come right in. Omegosh - one was also this little tiny schauzer? type dog that had our number!! This little guy, Tyson, kept both hubby and I tag teaming to get him back IN the house - having the greatest time laughing at us I am sure. We felt we had totally been manipulated by this tiny cute fellow who KNEW that we knew NOTHING about dogs When my friend returned, that dog kept laughing at us - I could see it in his eyes!!! Smirking at the dumb cat people!!!

Hope the rest of the week gives you many opportunities for more stories!! Wear coveralls and give yourself an extra half hour maybe?

[krazyaboutkatz]

LOL What a funny story. I hope that the rest of the week goes better.

This reminds of me when I used to house sit for people that my mom knew and sometimes they also had dogs. One time I also lost a dog in the house and it wouldn't come out and I think I needed to give it some medicine or brush it's teeth so I had to find it. Well I remembered that when it hears the doorbell that it loves to run to the door and bark. I rang the doorbell and sure enough it came out of hiding and ran to the front door. I was able to outsmart this little dog.

[Randi]

Tracy, that was a clever move!

Sara, how did it go today? You may be more succesful if you have some treats ready for them.

Today, I had to go to the dentist and Fister was out. I had 15 min. to get him in. I took a can of his food (the one he gets as a treat now and again), went down and started opening it - there he came racing from the other end of the yard. Mission accomplished.