Chapter 25. Snoop and the Professor: Observations on Cats
There are quite a few cats in our neighborhood in Tallahassee and I thought I would talk about a couple of them that I have observed. I do note to my esteemed readers that my thoughts about cats are a bit jaded because of my very first experience with Tom the Cat on our cul de sac back in Indiana. I was just barely a pup, curious and naive about everything, when I got out the front door one day while the Professor wasn’t paying attention. He was too busy reading a note from his friend in Managua, Nicaragua and no, I haven’t a clue as to where that is. Once I got into the front yard, there was Tom the Cat sunning himself and I just had to explore and say hello. Tom was bigger than me and seemed to always stare at me when the Professor and I would go by him on our morning walks. But now, I was intent on checking out Tom the Cat. So I did what beagles do, I walked right up to Tom and started smelling where all dogs smell – I think you know where. The next thing I know, Tom had smacked me across my snout and I was rolling over and over in the street. After I stopped rolling, hoping that no one had witnessed this, I got up and walked as if I were in a drunken stupor back toward the Professor who was now on the front porch laughing at me. Such an indignity! So, since that time, I have been very wary and aloof when I encounter cats.
Anyway, in our neighborhood there are two cats that I see regularly on our walks, Caty and Cleo. Caty is a big yellow cat who is out every morning sunning herself in her driveway, just like I do on our back patio after our morning walk. Caty rarely moves but watches us closely with a seemingly singular purpose as we walk by. This must be something that cats practice a lot because all of the cats I know do this. If I walk closer to her driveway, I can actually feel the growing intensity of her x-ray stare. Well, I am no dummy, I now fully understand cat body and eye language when I see it and feel it, and so I steer clear of Caty the big yellow cat. Caty’s owner came out one morning and talked to the Professor. She works for an anti-big sugar lobby group, whatever that is. I laid down while they were talking about big sugar and its water usage. Caty kept her eyes on me. After what seemed like an eternity and those x-rays going going straight through me, I got a bit nervous and wined a bit to gain the Professor’s attention, so we could leave. I can never get used to that cat’s piercing stare.
There is also Cleo the Cat. Cleo is black, gray, brown, and white. He is my favorite because I think he believes he is a flying lion. He is always hidden between the flower bushes in the front of his house like a lion on the hunt. His coloring makes it difficult to see him. He is strategically placed close to the bird feeder. Now, I really don’t know why people have bird feeders because the Professor and Mom put bird feeders in my back yard, but they only feed the squirrels. Anyway, the other morning, there was Cleo hidden and completely motionless as always watching the bird feeder. I turned to look and you won’t believe what happened next. There was a small bird on the feeder and Cleo sprang into action, jumped through the air, must have been 4 feet high, and the next thing you know he had snatched the bird with his mouth. Wow!!! The Professor, Mom, and I couldn’t believe it! Such quickness and agility because Cleo had to actually turn in mid-air to snatch this little bird! Cleo took off with the bird to his front door, just like I imagine a lion in the wilds of Africa would do.
While I was initially impressed with Cleo, I got to thinking about what I had witnessed. I don’t know about you but I don’t think I want to eat a bird, I mean, it’s covered with feathers. And also, that is a lot of hard work by Cleo just to get breakfast. I mean, come on, you know I just paw at the Professor and I get food, water, and treats anytime I want, and I don’t have to work for them. I guess that proves I am smarter than Cleo. Take that Cleo. Beagles rule!!!!!!
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