Confessions of a Cat Sitter
Chris Pascoe is the author of A Cat Called Birmingham & You Can Take the Cat
Out of Slough, and a columnist for various UK & international magazines.
He’s also a cat sitter…
Anybody who says that all cats are basically
the same, can’t know cats at all. I mean they
may know cats because virtually everyone
knows at least one, even if it’s only because
the cat in question lives next door and nips
round to eat your flowers and pee on your
vegetable patch twice a week.
But I mean REALLY know cats, as in knowing that
every member of the furry-brigade has his or her
own special* habits, fears, skills and abilities. *In
some cases very ‘special’ indeed.
I mention this
because only this
week I watched a
tabby boy named Sid
do something quite
remarkable. Sid is a
great lad – friendly,
uncomplicated and
a lover of everything
edible (and many things that aren’t really edible at
all), but his female housemate Morticia is anything
but ‘uncomplicated’. While Morticia is absolutely
beautiful to look at – a stunning long haired
tortoiseshell with the quirkiest of harlequin faces –
she can also be hissy, growly and, at times, ever so
slightly terrifying. Sid certainly thinks so. It was one
of Morticia’s temper tantrums that prompted Sid
into his remarkable feat the other day.
Morticia, tail bushed up, ears back, a low rumbling
growl emanating from somewhere behind those
slightly bared teeth, was making her way slowly
across the lounge floor towards Sid. Sid, who up to
that moment hadn’t realised there was a problem,
began backing away in the general direction of
the nearest exit. As he finally passed through the
slightly ajar lounge door, he suddenly dropped
onto his side, extended one paw underneath the
door…and pulled it shut behind him. My mouth
actually dropped open – what a brilliant piece
of feline dexterity, and what an incredibly clever
30 |
hiyabucks.com
Cat Comforts
Cat Sitting Services
Flexible, friendly & professional service
We visit your cats in their
home while you’re away.
Fully insured and recommended.
T el: 01494 639486
Mobile: 07782 632814
Email: [email protected]
www.catcomforts.ukpet.com
solution to his problem. Morticia stopped dead in
her tracks, staring at the closed door as if trying
to take in what had just happened. She clearly
then decided the situation