We Need to Step It Up
Years ago after Carrie’s cat Rocky, after enjoying a long happy life, went to his final resting spot, Dennis and I agreed no more cats in the house. We have held true to that. It took many spring and fall housecleaning seasons before the soft gray tuffs were no longer found from the attic to the basement corners.
That is not to say that when a stray mama cat left one of her kitties on our patio five years ago, we were not above letting Honey Bunny take up digs in the garage porch. Honey Bunny has all her claws and
comes and goes as she wishes. There have been times when she has decided to stay out in the wild for several days on end. During the coldest winter days, Honey Bunny has made a trail in the snow to the far back yard to one of the old barns. We pretty much have made peace if there is a time when she won’t return. Honey Bunny lives her life by her own spirit, but can’t resist getting a good brushing. She will lay down and all four paws up to get the brushing of her life.
Last year, again, a mother cat left one of her kittens on the patio. It didn’t take Butter Ball long to decide 
he liked food, water and a roof over his head. Butter Ball will jump up on the lap, but doesn’t really care to be picked up. He also can come and go as he pleases, but has stayed close to the porch and gardens. He is getting to be a really big cat, as evident of this afternoon. We were going to take him into the vet clinic for a checkup and we missed the one chance to get him into the carrier. Time will tell if we get that job done this week.
All was well on Stauffer with Dennis, me, Honey Bunny and Butter Ball . . . until . . . along came Snuggles. By the grace of God Snuggles would have froze to death in the cardboard box someone left by our garbage can in February. The vet figured he was four months old at the time, and talk about a kitten having energy. Even when we returned home with him from the vet clinic, after making sure he would not be fostering any babies, we were advised to keep him quiet. 
Not Snuggles. Dennis says he can run around and hop like a little billy goat getting into everything that is not nailed down. Snuggles has no fear, but loves to crawl into Dennis’ jacket for a snooze. When the treats are put down once a day, Butter Ball is nudged to the side as Snuggles bulldozes his way to get as many as he can. Snuggles goes full boar, but when he decides it’s nap time, he’ll flop in the nearest spot.
We have one problem and Dennis and I need to step it up. There is no way either Dennis or I can get into the house fast enough to beat Snuggles into the house. Grant it, me with arms that have less than great range of motion, needing more time than Dennis to get the tightly sprung door open enough to get in. Snuggles can be on the back patio and when he notices we are on the move . . . he is moving faster. This morning Dennis was checking out the far corners of the basement seeking and searching for the little fellow that thinks he is going to stake a claim previously held by Rocky. For the longest time when I looked out, Snuggles was laying right by the back door ready for the next chance. He has already had an extended stay in the house as I didn’t realize he had gotten in when I went out. Talk about a surprise when Dennis came into the house and Snuggles was ready to greet him.
Life on Stauffer is good and very, very entertaining.