Day Forty Six

Cat Tricks

If I survive this morning and don't have a heart attack it will be a miracle. I love my cats. That is not up for debate. But this hunter thing they have going can get old pretty fast. I truly appreciate it when they catch bugs for me. I usually let the bug go, but at least it's no longer in the house. I'm not so crazy about them catching lizards. What really messes with me is when they catch something outside, then bring it inside - still alive. 

As I sat at the computer, contemplating the day ahead, I noticed some activity near the kitchen garbage can. This is no wimpy can, either. It is a stainless steel, Bullmastiff proof, industrial can. Eli was agitated and trying to get something from under the can - which was impossible. Chance was his audience. I thought there might be a bug under there so I tipped it over, thinking it was empty because today is trash collection day. It wasn't.  After picking up the trash I had spilled, I investigated further. No bug, just a little chameleon face peering out, terrified to move. I couldn't tell if he was dead or alive, so I shook the can a bit. Still couldn't tell. I decided not to take any chances, so I dragged the can to the front door and took it out onto the porch. By this time, I am seriously winded due to the goblutz I've had for nearly three weeks! It's either bronchitis, pneumonia or TB. Doesn't matter what you call it - I can't stop coughing and wheezing.

Anyway. Once I got a better look, I determined the little lizard was alive and hanging on for dear life to the garbage can/refuge. I shook the can. Nothing. As I was doing this, my NFH (Neighbor From Hell) drove by, and slowed to a crawl while passing the house. I'm sure the sight of me in my pajamas, shaking my garbage can up and down, then peering under it provided some new motive for them to want to see us move away. That was probably his first journal entry for the day. Anyway, I finally was able to coax the little lizard out of the can and onto the porch; letting him decide where to go from there.

I came back in, used my inhaler, poured another cup of coffee, then sat back down to type. I saw Fancy out of the corner of my eye and thought how sweet it was that he wanted to be near me. Then he looked at me and lifted his paw. Out crawled - well limped is more like it - a two inch roach with serious leg and wing impairments. Fancy got up, said, "You can thank me later," then ran back outside thru the cat door which has gotten a lot of action this morning. I sat there, stupefied. Not only was the creep factor off the charts, I had just gotten my heart rate back to near normal and had stopped wheezing. Now, there I was, with a crippled roach the size of a small mouse, and nothing to do but finish it off myself. I don't kill things - I rehabilitate them! For me to have to put something out of its misery - even a roach - disturbs me deeply. But it had to be done. One less roach in this world...

Well, I disposed of the roach carcass, although I wouldn't be surprised if it recovers and crawls back out of the garbage can to seek revenge. Fancy is content, knowing he did his job for the day. Eli and Finn are vying for the title of "Lizard Terminator" and little Chance just likes to watch everybody else knock themselves out. My original theme for today's blog was going to be about the proper training of dogs so they don't bite people, but I will save that for another day. For now, I need to rest.