Bodacious Boomer

Yesterday Evelyn invited me to come do our laundry at her house.  I reminded her that I couldn’t leave the pack at the Motel 6 while I was gone. “Bring them with you. They can stay in the yard”. It’s in the mid-70′s during the day now, so being outside, especially after being cooped up in a motel room for so long, would be a real treat for my group.

Evelyn has four furry souls that reside with her right now- one dog and three cats. She has her #1 canine- Annie- her rescued American Cattle dog, Topaz, an ancient calico who is queen of all she surveys, Zoe, a Halloweenie ( all black) kitty who’s a real sweetie; and then there’s Buddy.

Buddy is a ginormous tuxedo cat. He weighs 15 lbs if he weighs an ounce. Buddy is on an extended visit at Evelyn’s. His owner is between apartments, so Evelyn said he could stay at her house for awhile- til August to be exact. As everyone knows I’m a dog person, so I don’t understand all the peccadilloes that cats have. But this is the most self-assured cat that I’ve ever encountered. He just oozes entitlement. Although Annie tries to herd everybody, she doesn’t try to herd Buddy. He just sits there and looks at her. It looks like he thinking “Bring it. Come on. Just try it”.

Evelyn has been the hostess with the mostest, Buddy-wise and how does he repay her? By trying to escape whenever he can. When she catches him outside is he remorseful and stricken with shame? Hell no. He’s a cat. The first time she retrieved him she came away from it bleeding on both arms and wound up covered with band-aids. He got out and was missing for 5 days recently. Evelyn went so far as to call as pet detective. (I was sure the next step was going to be a Ouija board). Thankfully, he came back, slipping in without being noticed, just like he had slipped out. Cats are sneaky.

Yesterday he ran out the back door when Annie pushed it in. I didn’t know he was out til I heard a big commotion. Buddy was out alright, but instead of the leisurely stroll I’m sure he had planned, he was greeted by my pack. Greeted might not actually be the correct word. Accosted might be more accurate. By the time I got there, Buddy was on his back being examined up close and personal by the pack. They’re not usually around a cat so to say they were interested would be a huge understatement. To their credit, they didn’t hurt him; not they should’ve have- but you know the whole dog/cat thing.

Buddy was on his back for just a few seconds. I started yelling to distract my group and when I did, Buddy ran up the tree like his tail was on fire.

Evelyn took this photo of Buddy atop the tree. We got all the dogs quieted and secured then Doug put a ladder next to the tree. As soon as he did that Buddy came down and his own and made a beeline for the back door. If he doesn’t try to escape out the back again, Evelyn’s thinking about having our pack wait for him just outside the front door. Aversion therapy in action I guess. BTW- Buddy is just fine and back to being his condescending self. Cats.