Her tag read “Curios” and I frowned but realized the spelling mistake as she was soon in the cupboards, under the beds and very curious about my home.
Every day saw the return of the curious cat and I soon enjoyed getting home, fairly frazzled, to be met at my door by the enthusiastic feline friend.
The weight on my feet as I fell asleep was comforting. She obviously had an owner but living in a large complex, I assumed that there wasn’t a problem. How do you contain a cat? That’s exactly why I love them.
I was digging away in the garden when I felt a presence!
I looked up to find a scowling woman watching me and smiled immediately, trying to disarm her.
“Where’s my cat?”, she spat.
Aaaah…………”Well I’m not sure which cat is yours, there are a few running around the complex?”
“Curious”, the short answer came.
So I was right about the spelling mistake.
“I’m not sure, she may be in my flat but she comes and goes, you’re welcome to have a peep”, I said smiling and opening the gate.
She was VERY determined and walked straight in, looking in every room. She came out and asked me why the cat was SO “rustig” ? Curious was lying on the spare room bed. Well, what do you say?
Ask the cat?
She informed me that she was going to remove the cat and that I was to keep my windows closed! December in Pretoria?......I don't think so. Back in she went and came out with Curios, I mean Curious, in her arms. I opened the gate and as she walked through it, the cat went ballistic and scratched her in her face as she clung furiously to her. Blood dripping into her eye, she stalked away indignantly.
Why did I feel guilty – I didn’t even feed the cat……oh, and now I realize why she looked around the kitchen!
Well, that was that and I continued my gardening. Later that evening Curious was back and plopped herself cosily on the bed. An irate woman followed shortly after, banging on my door clutching a plastic cat carrier and wearing a very unfortunate expression on her scratched face that made me want to giggle.
She pressed the unwilling cat into the carrier and announced that she would be taking Curious to her parents in Witbank!
Goodness, such a terrible punishment for anyone !
I had no claim and after all it was her cat, so I shrugged my shoulders and off she sped.
I did miss her, but two weeks later she was back. She slunk into my home like a villain, her head hung and her body seemed bruised. She looked sad and done in, as she slowly snuggled into a corner of the chair.
Lo and behold I soon had a bashing on my door and opened it to a very confused woman. We had a long discussion about why her cat wouldn’t stay at home, about control, possession and love.
A week later after intermittent visits from Curios I received her “papers” under my door.I often see her in the parking lot and we have a quick cat chat, but strangely enough she’s stopped coming to visit me altogether.
It was almost as if she knew that I now “owned” her…..and she would have none of it!
That’s what I love about cats.
Curious owner though?
