Friday, March 13, 2009

Cat Walk


During this rather strange year in his life, my youngest son has acquired a little tiger tom cat. Last week we took the kitty to the vet to have the tom taken out of him but he has retained the swagger and the attitude.

A month or so ago, Archie and the cat were staying at a house about 6 miles away. The furnace had stopped working at the house and no one else was there. During the night, with a snowstorm raging, the house got really cold and Archie decided to come home. He tucked the kitty into his backpack and walked back here, came in through the door that I always leave unlocked for him or anyone else that needs it, cooked everything he could find in the cupboards while Charlie and I slept soundly unaware, and went to bed.

The next morning, I woke up, came downstairs and turned on the coffee pot picking up a piece of pasta as I walked across the kitchen floor. Hmmmm, I usually clean up better than that before bed and we hadn't had pasta for supper and is that the waffle iron out--and syrup sticky on the counter? Well, it didn't take Hercule Poirot to figure out that someone had come in and made a feast of pasta and waffles as a snowstorm had swirled outside and it didn't take too many of my deductive powers to figure out who it might have been. I went up the back staircase to Archie's room, opened the door and there he was asleep in his bed with this funny little cat. They have been here ever since.

One of the many characteristics of this little cat that endear him to Archie is that he takes walks just like a puppy dog would. Every day, they take a walk around town or through the woods with the kitty following or walking beside Archie. Today, they let me come with them on a walk to the hardware store.

No telling what people think when they see a teenage boy walking around with a little tiger cat beside him, but I guess we have gotten way past caring what people think. I hope it makes them smile.

18 comments:

Pappy said...

Be it ever so humble there's no place like home. Especially when there is plenty of food in the pantry. Tell Archie I said hello. Nice story.

The Buck Shoots Here said...

In the spring and fall, when Kitty will submit to getting her little paws wet, she waits for the kids to get off the bus. It may be the cutest thing ever. Glad the Teenager also has a buddy waiting for him.

beckie said...

How wonderful that Archie has such a loving kitty. A devoted pet makes the world seem a better place. He walked 6 miles in a Maine snow storm in the middle of the night??!!

beth said...

GREAT STORY !!!

Anonymous said...

Nice story Beth, I think I saw pasta and waffles on the IHOP menu not long ago. Have a nice weekend.

Unknown said...

What a cool looking kitty! Archie appears to have found a kindred spirit.

Kim said...

Such a cute cat. Love the story too. Kindred spirits indeed.

Beth said...

Tex, truly. I will tell him that you said hello--he may show up at your dooryard some day. He's planning to hit the road with no firm destination as soon as he graduates in June. I'll be giving him a list of friendly re-fueling spots across the country and yours will be on it.

Rach, that sounds so cute. I love cats.

Beckie, yes indeed. I don't know why he didn't call for a ride but 6 miles in a storm with a cat in his backpack. He's an interesting kid.

Beth, thanks!

Carey, Sounds like carbo loading for a marathon to me, but he enjoyed it--I think he slept until 3 p.m. that day.

Weatherboy, indeed he has. Strange but true.

Kallen, Charlie and I call the cat Mick Jagger because he's skinny and has a strut and an attitude.

Jayne said...

How sweet it must be to see the two of them walking side by side. :c)

LoveANewIdea said...

I love this story, especially the way that "Mick Jagger" follows Archie everywhere, even to the store! What a cutie pie. Pets are just the best.

SJ said...

Too funny, I can't wait to witness this in person! I saw Archie yesterday on his way to climbing, I offered him a ride but he was all set, I didn't see the cat then. Maybe it was at home recovering from loosing his "Tom"

KGMom said...

6 miles away? That took him how long? 2 hours?
Wow.
Love the cat--very cute. So your son must be a good person to have such a cat!

Lavinia said...

What a cute story! And a very cute tigger cat.

RuthieJ said...

That kitty is very handsome. I think it's neat that he and Archie are such good buddies! Thanks for sharing this fun story Beth.

Anonymous said...

I loved this story. I want my cat to do that, too!

My son is a cat lover, too. At one time we had 4 of them (and two dogs) but now we just have the one, Sophie cat.

Nan said...

I just love this story. It may become one of those life changing experiences your son will be talking about in later years. I've never seen anything so cute as that pic at the store.

Small Glimpses said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Small Glimpses said...

Amazing and heartwarming!! What an amazing cat and wonderful companion. (Sorry for the deleted comment..fat fingers this morning.)