Cats Quirks Antics

[Ray]

The “well-dressed duo” thread got me thinking about all of the cats we’ve had over the years.

I rescued a black cat (“BC”) as a tiny kitten living on the street when an undergrad in Atlanta. She lived in the dorms and apartments with me, was my “headrest” on all of the Atlanta to DC and back trips, and even went on our honeymoon.

We were at Skyland Lodge on the Blue Ridge Parkway, with a balcony overlooking the Shenandoah Valley. While we were sitting and enjoying the view, BC walked down the balcony ledge and into someone else’s room, where there were two Scotties. Much backing and howling was heard. The next thing my poor bride sees is me on the outside of the balcony, hanging onto the railing, going down to get the cat, with a hundred-foot drop below me. The damned cat strolls out of the room, jumped right over me and went into our room as if nothing had happened.

After a few more days there - where the doors remained closed with her in the room - it was time to head to Atlanta. After 4 hours on the Blue Ridge Parkway and realizing we were probably only 50 miles closer to our destination, we decided to go cross-country and find I-85. On the way, and many hours into the journey, we stopped for a break at a roadside park in Danville VA. Michele opened the car door and BC bolted into the woods.

My “break from driving” consisted of an hour of chasing her through the woods, but I did catch her, returned to the car, and drove the rest of the way to Atlanta.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Hahahaha I have had many many felines and my old man Rex was and will forever be the greatest.

I got Rex in preschool from a box outside of the grocery store. My mom could not say no to both a toddler and a kitten. So this marmalade tabby was my shadow until well into LAW SCHOOL!!! He was way over 20 when he finally passed but my favorite story was how he got out once in college (awful roommate of my GF basically let him out and didn’t mention it until the next day). We searched and searched and nothing. I figured, he was already close to 18, probably went off to die. I mourned and always kept an eye to the woods hoping to see the orange man stride out. About four weeks later I was on the toilet and heard him meow!

I ran to the yard and saw him sitting in the middle of the yard, his front right arms had gotten through his collar (it was a safety collar and should have released) but he wiggled it down like a bandolier and looked like Rambo!

He lived with me another five years after that! We joked that he was out syphoning the life force of other animals to recharge lol

[DeaC]

Can't make this stuff up. Love it.

[SouthPark]

Nice true story Ray. And thanks for sharing that nice one, and the adventure on the balcony.

Fortunately it panned out well, and you didn't end up on 'the news' hehehe. Ok ...... better not joke about it. Anyway, very nice (true) story.

[Ray]

We had a "prodigal cat", too.

Litter had been dropped off (dumped) outside of Pierce Hall at our church. I saw the last of them during a chicken barbecue fundraiser at which I was cooking. Caught the little buzz-saw and brought him home. Within about 2 hours, our daughter was pushing hum around in a doll baby carriage. Pierce was with us a long time, and all of our cats came and went as they pleased, but always were home for bedtime.

One Easter, Pierce failed to come home. We searched and searched, called and called, to no avail. After that following Christmas, we thought we heard/saw signs of a cat outside, so I started leaving a can of cat food out in a homemade styrofoam holder that had a heat pack inside so it wouldn't freeze (this was in PA).

After several days of feeding him outdoors, but being unable to lure him in, I decided trapping was the answer. I set up a steel milk crate on a stick, with the string coming in the front door. Waited and waited, and it took a couple of tried, but I finally got him! I slipped a piece of thin plywood under the door mat he was on, and Michele and I carried the VERY pissed-off cat into the house.

It wasn't our cat!

About a week later, Pierce DID come back, having been gone almost 9 months. Whenever that other cat saw us, he'd run away, for some reason.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Hahahahahaha I cannot imagine why?

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Ray

About a week later, Pierce DID come back, having been gone almost 9 months.

Over here ...... we call that 'gone walkabout'. Excellent job with the trapping of the other cat too hahaha.

[spinrah]

Oh man, as much as these stories are funny they also stress me out because they make me think of all the stressful situations my cats have gotten themselves into! But this is why we love cats, isn't it? They really are the epitome of "give no f***'s".

[Ray]

On the "quirk" side was an Abyssinian we had.

Unlike the other cats, he would not bother with fish or shrimp while we were preparing dinner, but much to our surprise, he loved mushrooms.

He'd jump up on the counter, and "spear" one with a claw, then sit there nibbling away - as if we'd handed him crudité on a toothpick.

[spinrah]

Originally Posted by Ray

On the "quirk" side was an Abyssinian we had.

Unlike the other cats, he would not bother with fish or shrimp while we were preparing dinner, but much to our surprise, he loved mushrooms.

He'd jump up on the counter, and "spear" one with a claw, then sit there nibbling away - as if we'd handed him crudité on a toothpick.

I read a study once arguing that cats are attracted to mushrooms because of the umami. They’re on the hunt for protein!