A Cat-astrophic day

Well, yesterday was by far the most nightmarish day I've had in a while.

WARNING: CAT LOVERS BEWARE

So, I finally found a home for my cat Sammy, my wonderful Aunt Betty...who already has 13 or 14 cats on a farm, so I figured it would be a safe bet. I knew I had to deliver the furry parcel that day, because I needed him out of my old place, since my friend, who is moving in, is allergic to cats. I called around the co-op looking for a cat cage, but alas, those I called either had given away their cat cages, or had leant them out. One woman had leant hers to her daughter who also lives in the co-op, and as murphy would have it, she wasn't home just then. Me, being impatient, but really not knowing when she might be home, I decided to be creative.

CAT-ASTROPHE #1:
I decided to make a cage out of a cardboard box. Being as humane as possible, I cut two 1.5'' wide and 6'' long slits on each side of the box, put Sammy in and closed the lid. Thinking this should do the trick, I happily drove off. By the time I reach the end of my street, Sammy managed to squeeze his big (for a cat) body OUT OF THE 1.5'' WIDE HOLE! People I told weren't too surprised at this, but was I ever. I quickly grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, while driving, and parked near the thrift store.

CAT-ASTROPHE #2:
Seeing as my first "cage" had failed me, I had nowhere to put Sammy, except to just let him roam in the car. I prayed he wouldn't christen the car, or use it as a scratching post. I went to the thrift store and found some promising boxes with pre-made holes in them. I put a bigger box underneath, put him under the box with holes, and thought I'd be clever by placing the bag of litter on top, so he couldn't knock the lid off. I got as far as Erb and Albert, when he had BROKEN THROUGH THE CORNER OF THE BOX and had gotten out again. Note: I had the window open. So, I'm driving along, a loose cat in the car, heading for the open window! I closed the window with one hand, tried to grab him with my right, and somehow was still driving *safely* in between. I pulled into a church parking lot, where I figured I'd re-group myself. I turned off the car, and tried to figure out what to do with this now-traumatized cat that was loose in the car. I decided, against all laws of humanity, that all I could do was put him in the trunk.

CAT-ASTROPHE #3:
So, I waited until there were no pedestrians around, and I threw him in the trunk. I went to start the car and it wouldn't start (this has been a problem in the past with our car). I sat there for 10 mins trying to start this car, sweat was pouring down my face. Everytime Sammy stopped meowing, I went to check on him, fearing he had suffocated (it was a hot day). He was fine. He may have peed somewhere, but he was fine. Finally the car started and I made it back to the co-op. I happened to see the woman I was trying to get a hold of for the cat cage, so I told her I needed to borrow it, and she gave me her keys. Meanwhile, I could hear Sammy meowing from the trunk. I prayed she wouldn't be able to hear that. I don't think she did.

CAT-ASTROPHE #4:
I parked the car and foolishly turned the engine off (in my defense, idling is bad). Sammy would NOT go into the cage without a fight. I tried for 5 mins or so to get him in, but he must have taken some kitty yoga classes, because he made shapes with his body I had never seen. All this to say, he was not going in. I outsmarted him by putting the cage upright (verticly) holding his arms and legs and pushing him into the cage. Hah! I put him in the front seat beside me, and the car would not start, This time, the lights weren't even coming on. I tried for 10-15 mins. No dice. Sweat was pouring down my face. Sammy was panting. I called my dad to save the day. He picked me up with Sammy, and we were off to my Aunt and Uncles where I handed him over, and he seemed happy with the place.

CAT-ASTROPHE #5:
On the way, I realized I forgot the litter box, litter and food in the back of Will's trunk. Oh well. At that point, I didn't care anymore.

CAT-ASTROPHE #6:
Due to all the commotion of the morning, I hadn't eaten since 7:30 (t was then 1:00 or so), and I was reading the map to figure out how to get to Tavistock from there (we were picking Will up to take him back to the 'Loo to fix the car). I got VERY car sick. By the time we made it to the Tavi Tim Hortens, I relieved myself from both ends. Surprisingly, I felt MUCH better!

There is a happy ending to all this. Will and I fixed the car, went back to my Aunt and Uncles to drop off the remaining goods, chatted a while, checked up on Sammy, and had a relaxing evening in Tavi after that.

What did I learn from all this? Don't let your cat take kitty yoga. And, the Maritimes must be nice this time of year.

   [ posted by Anabee @ 7:33 PM ]