Catting Around

Our Charlotte neighborhood has an e-mail setup to notify neighbors of news of note… a prowler, a street closing for a race, or, most often, Lost & Found notices–usually a pet.  One night a couple of weeks ago, a resident reported that three strange Labs had showed up in her yard.  She said she’d keep the dogs on her porch.  By the next morning she was getting anxious as she still had the dogs and what exactly does a non-pet owner feed three large hungry animals?   Dogs and owner were reunited by mid-morning.

Here at the beach-house-on-the-beach, either no one ever loses a pet or they’re on their own if they do.  On the occasions that the late Howard Lee ever got out, we had only to open the back door of the station wagon and drive slowly up the street.  Each time, 130 pounds of eager-to-ride dog would leap in before we got to the corner.  That doesn’t work with Miss Piggy, who is too old, lazy, and short to take flying leaps.

We have a fenced back yard, but if there is even a hint of rain, Miss Piggy will not go out unaccompanied.  On those occasions, it’s easier to take her in front because there’s no wet deck to cover before reaching the grass.  BUT… there’s also no fence.

One recent misty morning, DB stood in his underwear and bedroom slippers at the open garage door, waiting for Miss Piggy to do her quick squat.  Instead, she bolted, in search of any nearby cat food.  Dearly Beloved’s raspy stage whispers to her were ignored.  Unwilling to yell and wake the neighborhood at 6 AM, he took his only other option and headed down the driveway,  still in his underwear and slippers.

At the same time, the garage door across the street raised and our nightgown-clad neighbor stepped out,  Miss Piggy following.  They walked down the driveway, Miss Piggy’s eyes never leaving the dog biscuit treat that Neighbor was holding by her side.  Neighbor and DB met between houses and the dog biscuit torch was passed.  They agreed they had to quit meeting like that, then turned to retrace their steps.  Miss Piggy followed the dog biscuit home and was soon happily munching on it in our kitchen.  DB returned to bed and was asleep within minutes, but only after waking me to relate the story.

Lost cats, I think, don’t get as much attention, as lost dogs.  Since some owners allow their cats to roam, people aren’t as apt to take note of a strange cat.  Even photos don’t help.

I can think of one very notable exception.

When Katmandu, an indoor cat in our Charlotte neighborhood, sneaked out in search of adventure, his frantic owner included two photos in her e-mail plea to the neighbors.  Katmandu  is a black and brown Bengal with distinctive markings, as are apparent in this picture.

Katmandu and Al

Appealing as the picture is, I don’t think this is the one that sent so many neighbors out in search of the missing feline.

Just guessing, mind you, but I’d bet it was this one:

It

Katmandu

The Katman is safely back home.  His owner reported that everybody was pleased, except Al, who puffed his tail and hissed at him.

(Thanks to HR, Katmandu’s owner, for sharing the photos and info about her wild, crazy kitties.)