Tag Archives: Cats

Jamaican Cats

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Last week, my wife and I went on a cruise with her son and his fiance. Jamaica was our second port. We arrived there Wednesday morning. My wife booked us all on a “comfortable” bus tour around the island. It was probably the worst excursion we ever went on. The bus was small, and the spacing between the seats was designed for people under five feet tall. Worse, and something Rose didn’t realize when she booked it, was that it was a five-hour trip. We were stuck crammed on this bus for five hours with only a few opportunities to get out and stretch our legs. Those opportunities involved stopping at a place where a dozen vendors were waiting to pounce as soon as you got off the bus to try to sell you genuine Jamaican souvenirs made in China. We chose to suffer on the bus rather than off most of the stops.

The only bright spot of the trip was when we stopped for lunch. It wasn’t bright because the food was good (It was the worst food I ever experienced on a cruise). It was bright because I got to meet several stray cats.

The first one greeted us when we got off the bus. He followed me to the bathroom and then waited outside for me.

We then went to where they were serving lunch. They offered us three choices: jerk chicken, pork sausage, and chicken sausage. I chose the chicken sausage. We sat down to eat, but the sausage was a bit spicy, which is why I avoided the jerk chicken.

I saw two more cats show up as people started eating. This one was getting attention from a human and another cat.

They then came to me.

I gave them some of my sausage and they happily ate it. Soon a third cat showed up.

I suppose they were used to the food there. After a while, the first cat I saw came to me but he wanted nothing to do with my chicken sausage. I guessed he was the smartest one in the bunch.

There are Haters Everywhere

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I was outside with Frankie in our backyard a couple of weeks ago. We were at the south end of our property while the man who lives two houses south of us stood outside at the north end of his property. I don’t remember all that was said, but he did tell me he was allergic to cat pee. It was his subtle way of telling me to keep my cat off his property.

I wanted to ask him, “How do you know that? Did a cat pee on you?” Instead, I took the high road and told him Frankie has a litterbox and just likes to come outside sometimes. The truth is, Frankie does feel the need to “mark” some of the bushes he comes across, including the ones in front of the man’s house. Since then, I encourage Frankie to move along when we pass his house. “C’mon, Frankie. A cat hater lives here.”

We have other haters in the neighborhood too. These two signs are from houses across the street from each other.

I understand not wanting poop in your yard, but people here are very good about picking up after their dogs. I’m sure these people are just miserable, and I feel a bit sorry for them.

The problem is there are many miserable people in this world, and that is one of the reasons I am reluctant to just let Frankie come and go as he pleases. Many years ago my sister-in-law cared for some stray cats near her home and someone poisoned one of them. It cost her over $500 to have a vet treat the cat. Fortunately, he survived.

Most people are good, but the bad sure do keep us on our toes.

Cat Attractors: Luggage and Laundry

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Nothing attracts cats more than luggage and laundry, at least nothing inedible. My wife had her suitcase out Sunday morning because she was leaving on a business trip. At the same time, I was folding towels that just came out of the laundry. I don’t have to show you photos for you to know what happened next, but I will anyway.

After Rose left and the towels were put away, Floki and Chris remained.

Frankie Gets Aggressive

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I took Frankie out for a walk Saturday morning. Since I started a new job on Thursday I am not able to take him out every day, and he was really hounding me to go outside.

After about fifteen minutes we came upon one of the same cats that we saw recently with pretty much the same result.

After this incident, the other cat was hiding so I thought it best to pick Frankie up and move him away from the area. As I was carrying him I passed a neighbor who commented on Frankie’s cuteness. I told her I was carrying him because of aother cat.

She said, “Oh, that’s Sampson.” I could be wrong about the name but it was the name of an ancient warrior. So now I know the other cat is male. What surprises me is that Frankie would be the aggressor since we were on the other cat’s home turf.

I put Frankie down and we wondered for another fifteen minutes or so. My wife and I were heading out soon so I needed to get Frankie home. I was willing to let him walk home but he was going in the wrong direction and my efforts to turn him around failed.

The only thing left to do was pick him up and carry him home. So I picked him up and started walking. Frankie was upset and started hissing. I said, “Frankie, don’t hiss at me!”

“Hssssssssssss,” was his response.

I don’t know what made me think kissing him on the top of the head would calm him down. Instead, he twisted and launched both sets of claws into my face.

I dropped him to the ground and yelled at him. I won’t repeat my words here. I then picked him up and continued home. I could feel blood flowing down both sides of my face. He got me next to my right eye and just above my mouth on the left side. I worried that they might be deep scratches that would scar my face.

When I got home my wife was shocked to see my bloody face. I told her what happened and she said, “That’s it! Frankie is not going outside anymore.”

I then wiped the blood off my face and was relieved to see that both wounds were more like punctures instead of scratches.

I don’t think I will stop taking Frankie outside but I do think he could use a time out right now.