Family pet, circa 1979:
Our gray cat, Tiny,
(who weighed well over 15 lbs)
decided one day he
hated everyone who wore
blue jeans;
so he hid behind the hedges
and leapt out
aggressively when
neighbors walked
by in their Levis.
He climbed up their
pants legs,
biting their outseams
(and sometimes a thigh),
digging in with his claws
as his intended victims ran,
screaming,
dragging their denim-clad legs
to which Tiny clung.
Mom said,
“I think he’s gone crazy.”
She fielded all the
complaints,
winding the telephone cord
from the kitchen phone
around her finger,
a crease forming above
the bridge of her nose.
“He’s fully vaccinated,”
she offered.
“I can show you his rabies tag.”
“I’m sorry,” she said.
After a long line
of victims
expressed their concern (outrage),
Mom hefted the docile Tiny
(Mom was wearing a dress)
into a cat carrier.
She told us to say our goodbyes.
Tiny was going to become
a country cat.
Our vet, at a loss for how to
treat a jeans-hating feline,
found a home for Tiny
with a farmer and his wife
who needed a good mouser
out at their place.
My mom and the vet
warned them
about the whole denim
thing;
but the farmer said
he didn’t mind.
Whenever I thought of Tiny,
I pictured him clinging
to the farmer’s overalls
as that patient, kind farmer
fed the horses
and milked the cows,
our crazy cat
along for the ride.
12 responses to “Tiny”
-
Lori
,
I love a good cat story. Tiny reminds me of our cat Luna, whom I call Luna-tic. The name should tell you why. I’m glad Timy found a good home and hope she lived a long and prosperous life.-
So funny—and apt “Luna-tic!”
-
Ha! Love Luna-tic! Cats make excellent main characters.
-
-
I am so glad Tiny found a good home. As someone who has several cats, I think I can safely say that there is no way to figure out what is going on in a cat’s mind.
-
So true! Wouldn’t it be fun to read their minds for a day?
-
-
I am happy to read this on a morning when the younger of our two cats once again completely toppled the carpeted cat-tower sitting in front of a big window. I love the image of your mom, her finger encased in curly-cord, the bridge of her brow “creased” in consternation. So glad that denim-detesting feline found a happy home with a farmer who appreciated animals, quirks and all!
-
Thanks, Trish! Cats have so much personality. We always had a feisty cat around the house when I was growing up.
-
-
Lori, this is so fun. I’m sorry you had to say goodbye to Tiny when you were young, but what a great story. And it is nice to imagine him helping the farmer!
-
Thanks, Denise! Tiny was quite a cat.
-
-
Loved this small moment! Maybe tiny got over his denim obsession and settled in happily to farm life.
-
I hope Tiny lived happily ever after on that farm! Thank you!
-
-
I just read your dog story, but as an affirmed cat lover, I had to circle back for this story. You brought Tiny (all 15 lbs. of her) to life with this sketch! I hope her country years were long and prosperous.
Leave a Reply