LC and Sir

We have seven – that’s right seven - cats. That’s in addition to a dozen or so goldfish and the dog, Tina Turner. The cats range in age from older than God to our newest addition LC, pictured, who’s about 7 months.

LC, short for Elsie because she looks like a little cow, is primarily a house cat. For the first few months we kept her inside because she wasn’t spayed. Then we kept her inside because it was damned cold outside.

Being cooped up was not sitting well with her. She chased all our other female cats demonically, but got along famously with our only male feline, Sir. Prior to LC’s arrival, it was Sir’s job to keep all the females in line by beating the shit out of them at every opportunity.

Strangely enough, he gets along famously with LC. They play together, and even when she attacks his tail as he strolls past her, he just gives her a look as if to say, “OK. Since it’s you, I’ll let it slide.” They seem to be our most intelligent cats. In fact, my wife insists that they’re not cats at all, but some highly intelligent beings sent here to straighten us out.

Today, LC got out. It was an unseasonably warm day and we were in and out of the house many times. During one of those excursions, she slipped out with us.

I noticed her playing in the back yard, then got involved with a chore and lost track of her. Then I noticed something move on the roof. LC. She had apparently climbed the apple tree next to our front deck and jumped to the roof. We’ve had the same problem with all our other cats. They get up there, then can’t get back down.

I went to the basement, got the ladder and went to the back deck. With a 6-foot ladder I can get high enough to entice a cat to the edge, then reach up and grab it. I’ve done it several other times.

As I reached the top of the ladder, I noticed the apple tree moving. I came down off the ladder and peeked around the side of the house.

There was Sir, leading LC back down the apple tree. Yep. They’re smarter than we give them credit for, and possibly smarter than we are.

Later,

Obi