A CAT TAIL - SOMETHING DIFFERENT

I was reminded today of our family tale regarding cats

Many years ago, our daughters were promised a cat for exemplary behaviour, and we chose a short-haried tabby (male). He was extremely handsome, as I suppose we all consider our cats. When he was partly grown, he managed to disappear. Weeks went by, and we considered him gone. The girls were heartbroken - my wife was ecstatic!

But..... we had friends who were 'cat-people'.

They just KNEW that we must be mourning our loss, and they sent another friend to our house with a stray kitten he had 'rescued'. It was a fluffy female, and she was quickly so named. My wife was not thrilled. The daughters were.

Then, of course the cat came back, as the old song goes. Our tom returned, fat and healthy, from no-man's land - apparently to stay, checking out the new arrival with approval. Now we had two cats.

So- in due course, we had him neutered, at the proper age.

He stayed a month or so more - and left - this time, for good. We were out $80 for the veterinary bill. 'Fluffy' stayed on, and in her time was also 'fixed' at the veterinarian's. She moved with us, and lived to about 16 years.

Sir Tom, whose actual name I have forgotten, perhaps due to trauma :-)) came back once more, years later, for an impromptu visit, still looking well-fed and regal. His stay lasted only a couple of hours. He had found a home he liked better.

That is our cat-tail, or cat tale if you must. We mourned Fluffy when her time came, but the girls were both adults, away from home, and my wife had tears, although she insisted she hated having even one cat.

Now we have no cat.

Last year, we had mice for the first time. I trapped 10 of them near the kitchen garbage before we were free of them.