Cats

Dear Max,

Gramma told us dogs that you have a cat living at your house. I don't know how I would like it, having a cat. When I came here to live with Gramma and Papa, there was a cat named Gremlin in residence. He was not happy to have me here. He even wrote a letter to our boy about me. It was less than flattering, let me tell you! He referred to me as "that creature".

He went to Cat Heaven not long after my arrival here. He liked to torment us dogs by jumping to a place higher than we could reach, then dangling his tail to tease us. At night when Gramma and Papa would sit in the living room, he would sit on the back of the sofa and rub Gramma's neck. Gramma liked that. Gremlin very much preferred Gramma to Papa, and Papa is the one who brought him to our home! He gave this cat to Gramma as a gift. I sit on the back of the sofa behind Gramma now. She says that I am her neck pillow.

As you know, the puppy called Toni enjoys looking out the window. I used to do that a lot, but I have discovered that I can catch a nap and she will alert me if anything interesting shows up. She barks at everything. Gramma tells her to stop. As soon as the weather warms up and Gramma puts out the Hummingbird feeders, she will be barking non-stop! She tries to chase geese that are flying way up in the sky. She chases her own tail, too. She really is not all that smart.

For quite some time we have been seeing some cats on our front porch. One is yellow striped and the other is black. Papa feeds them, but not too much. Gramma says that they are mousers. This means that they catch mice and eat them. I find this to be rather disgusting and am very grateful that I am not a cat!


The black cat does not seem to be afraid of Gramma. Gramma put some cat food in the bowl for her. If they eat mice, what is the cat food made of? Oh, no ....... I have eaten this cat food before!

The yellow cat joined the black cat and stared at Gramma. Gramma was talking to these cats in her softest voice. Here kitty kitty.

They both ignored her and turned their backs to eat.

Here kitty, kitty .......... They just licked their chops and stared.

All the while that Gramma was outside taking pictures and feeding the cats, the crazy puppy called Toni was whining and crying at the storm door. She stuck her nose to the bottom of the door and cried as she sniffed the air outside. I joined her and she was right, the air was ripe with essence of cat smell. Gramma ignored us as she called to these cats. And this is why I don't care for cats ........ she ignored us dogs.

When she finally came back inside she reported that these cats who chase mice and eat them were not ready to let her touch them. She said that they should warm up to her soon. She also said that the cat with yellow stripes has a limp. She swept the porch while she was outside and said there was evidence of a battle on one side of the porch with lots of white and yellow cat fur. She did tell us that she did not find any blood. I am not sure how I feel about this. I want to say that we don't need more pets here at our house, but, I thought that when Papa brought the puppy called Toni home. I must confess that I rather like having her around.

So, tell me, Max, what is it like having a cat around? Is she bigger than you? Does she steal your food? Have you had an opportunity to taste hers? Gramma says that I am a very inquisitive creature. Then she said some little ditty about curiosity killing the cat. I am beginning to think I will never figure this woman out!

Please talk to your boy and convince him to write back!

Your curious friend, Wall-E