|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Dogs have owners; cats have staff," and I have worked for some wonderful cats in my time. The one I loved best was named Buster. Buster had an unusual mind. He didn't think like other cats; he didn't act like other cats. Maybe that's why I loved him so.
We got Buster from the county animal shelter. We usually get our cats from the county animal shelter. That way we save a life -- and we've gotten some great cats that way. One fall, after our cat had died and left a big hole in our lives, we went to the animal shelter for a kitten. There were no kittens.
I was about to give up, but my husband Bill kept saying, "That one over there looks good." And he did. He was about three-quarters grown, grey and white, and had a sweet, hopeful expression on his little face. Also, he was scheduled to be killed the next day. There was no time for us to go home and meditate on the matter.
We went to the people in charge and said, "We'll take that one."
As we and the cat rode home, Bill picked out his name. We take turns naming our cats, and it was Bill's turn. "We'll call him Buster," he said.
"Buster?"
"When you're mad at me, you say, 'See here, Buster,' and I'd like to have someone else around named Buster."
When we got Buster home, he of course had to inspect the house. After a brief look around, he went into my mother's bedroom, where the sun was shining warmly on her pink bedspread. He jumped onto the bed and promptly went to sleep in a patch of sunlight, sprawled out on his back, paws up, the way a cat sprawls when he's feeling completely safe and happy.
"Home at last," he was saying. "Home at last."
"Buster Is Welcomed To The Neighborhood"
At our house Buster had food available around the clock, but he must have been hungry as a kitten, because he didn't think of the other houses in our neighborhood as unfriendly. He thought of them as snack bars.
I later discovered that he got a slice of bologna from Pearl Cesare every morning around ten. He got milk from Bert Pigge shortly thereafter. Then he jumped onto a chair -- Bert had an especially desirable one -- and had a nap.
Buster was a successful entrepreneur from the start.
The other cats welcomed Buster to the neighborhood by hissing and snarling and letting him know he was in THEIR territory and he'd better get out. Well, Buster didn't get out. He didn't even get worried. I don't know why; he just didn't.
Then came the heavy artillery: the neighborhood's reigning tomcat.
I heard a noise like a furious air-raid siren coming from the back yard. I looked out the window to see the huge reigning black-and-white tom crouched a few feet from Buster, making one of the world's most menacing sounds. But Buster didn't seem worried. He listened politely. Then he noticed an autumn leaf spinning down toward him. The wind blew the leaf around the corner of the house, and Buster followed after it, leaping and pawing the leaf as it spun.
The bewildered tom sent a few more air-raid siren noises into empty air. Then he fell silent. At last he wandered off in another direction.
After that Buster was accepted as a neighborhood cat in good standing.
"Buster and I Rise and Shine"
Buster woke me in the morning by bouncing on my waterbed. I would dream I was in a small boat in a choppy sea. And gradually wake to find Buster leaping straight up in the air and briskly landing on all fours on the waterbed. KER-THUMP, KER-SLOSH. KER-THUMP, KER-SLOSH. The waterbed waves grew higher and higher as Buster briskly bounced . . . until, groggy and seasick, I rolled onto solid ground.
"Buster And The Essential Kindness of Automobiles"
Buster believed in the essential kindness of people and automobiles. When summer arrived, I began hearing cars honk in front of the house. And looked out to see Buster waking from a nap, which nap was taking place in the middle of the street: he found the sun-warmed black pavement ideal for that purpose. Fortunately ours was not a through street; drivers were honking at Buster and waiting for him to leisurely wake up and move out of their way. But how long could that last?
Whenever I saw Buster napping in the street, I yelled at him to get out. To which he paid no attention. I had to go into the street, pick up his warm, luxuriously limp body, and carry him indoors.
And the next day I'd hear a car honking again.
"Why didn't you keep him indoors, you idiot?" you are thinking.
Well, with 20/20 hindsight I know I should have. But I hoped that the honking cars would teach Buster not to sleep in the street. They would have taught any other cat.
And, while I dithered, came the heartbreaking day when Buster didn't return from his happy neighborhood rounds.
I of course made inquiries -- and learned about his tours of the home snack bars.
But he hadn't been to any of them that day.
I asked a group of kids if they had seen Buster.
"Is he the cat who chases cars?" they asked.
And then I recalled a half-forgotten memory: that of a little grey and white figure bounding joyously in the wake of an automobile.
"That's him," I said.
But they had not seen him lately either.
I will never know for certain what happened to Buster, but clearly he trusted in the essential kindness of people and automobiles one time too many.
About The Author
Find Janette Blackwell's hilarious cookbook, "Steamin' Down the Tracks with Viola Hockenberry," at foodandfiction.com
Wind Chimes and more... If you have a hard time in summer imagine how... Read More As much as you may love your cute, new puppy,... Read More So, you read somewhere that introducing a new kitten into... Read More Why use a crate:When used properly and not abused, crates... Read More Nutrition and Your Dog's Behavior Proper nutrition is the fundamental... Read More Eclampsia, or milk fever, is an acute, life-threatening condition which... Read More Dog bite injuries are alarmingly the most common condition that... Read More Grooming means taking care of the physical maintenance of the... Read More When you take into account that there are over 68,000,000... Read More Dogs are descendent of wolves. To study the psychology of... Read More If you're reading this I think it's safe to assume... Read More "Westies" or West Highland White Terriers are furry coated dogs,... Read More Vaccinations play an important part in the preventive healthcare of... Read More As a parent, you want to be able to give... Read More It's important to understand your dog's sleeping habits and how... Read More Let me begin by saying that I am not an... Read More The 6 Keys To Building A Life Long Partnership With... Read More Some sources seem to indicate that living with a serval... Read More We have a long history with domesticated animals and even... Read More This article discusses two foods in paticual. For the puppy... Read More For the first 8,000 years of their relationship with humans,... Read More For thousands of years, dogs have been "man's best friend."... Read More One of the best parts of the day for any... Read More So you want to keep discus fish or are already... Read More Our pets give us so much. They entertain us, listen... Read More
Windchimes
for great gifts!
7 Simple Ways To Safe Guard Your Dog This Summer!
You Should Teach Your Puppy Proper Chewing Behavior
Introducing a New Kitten to Your Older Cat.
Dog Crate Buyers Guide - How to Choose the Right Crate and Accessories
Nutrition and Your Dogs Behavior
Canine Eclampsia, or Milk Fever In Dogs
Biting & Nipping Behavior Can Kill Your Dog!
How to Groom Your Horse
A Dog Day Care Franchise - Is It Really Worth It?
Understanding Psychology Of Dog Training: Pack Behavior & Establishing Control
Housebreaking Dogs and Puppies - A Step by Step Guide to Potty Training Your Dog or Puppy
West Highland White Terriers ? Westies- A Wonderful Breed Apart
Dog Vaccinations: Doing Shots
Hamsters; The Perfect Starter Pet
What You Should Know About Your Dogs Sleeping Habits
Herbs for Pets
Horse Training Creativeness: The 5th Of 6 Keys To Developing A Partnership With Your Horse
Living With a Pet Serval
Dogs, Cats, Horses?We Love Them All!
Life Long Nutrition A Comparison of Dog Foods
Your Guide to Cat Breeds
How To Keep Your Dog Safe in the 21st Century
Must-Have Know-How On Your Dogs Meal-Times
Keeping Discus Fish Disease Free
Grieving Our Pets Death
The answer is "no" if you are the type who... Read More
As a business, I've not been in the holistic pet... Read More
If Your Dog Suffers From Arthritis, Consider The Natural Alternative:Rimadyl... Read More
A dog that is feeling pain can often be highly... Read More
The Discus fish has its habitat in the South American... Read More
Why paint your cat? After all cats are beautiful creatures... Read More
... Read More
Mention the word "video" and different people would come up... Read More
Fleas belong to the insect order Siphonaptera. They are common... Read More
Many people are searching for different means to have pets.... Read More
Almost every dog owner will have to use some sort... Read More
Advice!!!-Pet products that are useful, fun and enjoyable will make... Read More
Choosing a dog is a fun adventure. The search for... Read More
The idea of picking up a horse's hooves can intimidate... Read More
Teaching your puppy crate training is the first and best... Read More
Dog training can provide a tremendous amount of satisfaction. Every... Read More
Opening your heart to a Pomeranian can be fun, but... Read More
Most dogs live between ten and seventeen years. The relationship... Read More
Even a cat that compulsively cleans itself can benefit from... Read More
An essential to your dog's health is his/her regular annual... Read More
For those pet owners who do not know what a... Read More
Mum, dad, can we get a puppy? Its a plea... Read More
All positive commands should be spoken sharply and distinctly during... Read More
If you are keeping tetras, chances are you are breeding... Read More
Scientific Name: Botia macracanthus Other Scientific Name(s): Cobitis macracanthus, Botia... Read More
Pet |