Thursday, April 25, 2013

Seven cats later...



So The HOA was this vague evil that hung in the distance. We didn’t have a dog, and that we didn’t hear the neighbors’ dogs barking or see them running loose wasn’t exactly a hardship.

Then our cat disappeared. That was a surprise. She was fine for two weeks, caught mice already, and wasn’t at the animal shelter. Hmm. Assuming the worse, we immediately drove the streets looking for evidence of a hit-and-run. Yes, we’re morbid.

Nothing. The kids were heartbroken. Fine, we got another cat. This one lasted a week. Hubby was miffed. The neighbor across the street cited HOA rules against cats leaving your yard. Was he serious? Apparently, it was in there. Yeah? Enforce it. The next two cats also disappeared, as did three more from the cul-de-sac. 

Seven missing cats caught everyone's attention. People began to talk, whispers behind turned backs so no one could overhear. It was very dramatic. Several of the kids/teens thought the ‘mean’ man across the street was a secret agent for The HOA and was shooting the cats. I’ll dismiss that one, although one neighbor did get a warning letter from The HOA regarding his wandering pet. True. 

The development backs against a golf course where foxes live and my son and hubby can attest they grow to the size of small deer. This is my personal theory. Cat collars have bells on them so it’s like advertising “Dinner time!” every time we let them outside. Of course we also have owls. I know from personal experience an owl can and will carry off a cat or small dog. And I’ve seen a bald eagle fishing in one of our ponds. It makes the seagulls and ducks nervous.

We have another cat because my hubby is an idiot. I mean because he loves the kids. She insists on going outside now that the weather’s good. Stupid cat. I insist she be back inside before dark when most of the predators come out. She’s a year old now and she grew up being told she’s going to be eaten by a fox. She’s a little neurotic. Hopefully something sunk in and she’ll last a little longer than our last four. Anyone taking bets?

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