Cacaphonic Cats

Okay, I just wanted to use the word 'cacaphonic' in a sentence...heh heh.

This weekend saw the addition of a new member to our pet family-Albert, the barking kitten. Those of you who have read my childrens story (that I'm still looking to publish) know how funny this is.

My son had a kitten earlier this year named Marty and he was precious and funny and just a great kitty! He was a long haired gray tabby that my beagle dog just loved but alas, he ran away. We went to Memphis in June and when we came back a week later, Mrs Roper was alone on the porch w/ her head cocked in that curious way of hers. 'Where is Marty?' she seemed to ask. And we haven't seen him since.

My little boy was not 'devastated' but he was sad and we've been looking for a new feline friend ever since. I finally resorted about a month ago to putting a little note on the local grocery store window w/ a drawing of a kitty and the message: 'My little boy wants a kitten, preferably a black one. Do you have one? Please call-----.' I forgot all about the note until Saturday when I got a call from a gravely voiced lady saying 'Do you still need a kitty for your little boy?' So, I piled the kids in the car and went to the gravely-voiced lady's house for our new pet. Johnson had no idea what we were doing and he was delighted when I brought the little sooty ball of fluff out to the car. He was wearing a red and green ribbon around his neck -courtesy gravely-voiced lady and kin- and soooo pretty. The best thing is, he's got some kind of funny condition where his meows are hoarse, short, croaky little squeaks that sound very similar to a whining dog! Albert for sure.

Unfortunately, we've had kind of a rough weekend w/ Albert. We're keeping him in the basement so that he can eventually help move out the mouse population down there but Johnson brings him up to the yard to play also. Well, yesterday I looked out of the window and Mrs Roper had taken the kitten in her mouth and was slinging him around like some type of old sock! I ran outside and grabbed the dog by her neck, forcing her to spit out the kitten! The poor slimy kitten was lying on the ground in turmoil, groaning and seeming almost dead. After giving Mrs Roper a well deserved beating (which made little impact I'm sure), I tried to pick up Albert and carry him inside to assess damages. I received two very deep bites on my hand but eventually I was able to carry him to the bathroom and rinse him off, thankfully finding that he was just fine...no blood or anything. I wrapped him in a towel and held him until he stopped trembling and now he seems 'over it'.

The dog obviously does NOT like this cat and that could present a problem. She was trying to kill it and that disturbed me so badly because Johnson and Nathan were there watching and crying. But hopefully, they will eventually get used to each other. I suppose baby steps are in order.

In addition to our funny cat situation, Nathan has developed a new 'expression' that puzzles me no end! Whenever he wants something, he now says 'Two-A' repeatedly. We have no idea what that means and have examined every possibility from battleship to bingo. Maybe when he grows up, he'll be able to clue us in.

'Two-A'.