It’s Baxter!

Posted on 04.13.05 1:52PM in animals, family

A few years ago, when my 17 year old cat named Sam died three days after my dog, the Peterson family was reduced to owning and caring for one cat. And at first, it was alright. It was nice to have an animal around the house filling my Miniature Chelty’s role as resident furry thing that poops.

Mind you, however, that I brought this cat, Lucky, home from preschool. That would make him 12. Sixty four in cat years. That’s old. And it’s showing.

Since about four years ago, Lucky’s had a very demanding nighttime schedule that, luckily, I am not responsible for maintaining. Each morning at about three, his high-pitched squeal that has devolved and can no longer be considered a meow rings throughout the house, waking my poor father, consistently and without fail. Then good ole Pop gets out of bed, letting the cat outside to do whatever cats do in the wee hours of the morning.

Then, I get up at five and ignore the mindless droning of feline desire so that I don’t have to deal with the morning feeding chores – particularly because I have no idea what to feed this thing. Enter my father, who’s been through the regiment morning after morning for years. My mother is very particular about her cat; she’s outlined a system concerning what food the cat eats at particular junctures that is more intricate and complex than most women. And, my friends, women are enigmas.

And so, upon allowing entrance to the most annoying animal God decided to put on this green earth, Dad has to feed it the food prescribed by the mandate of the matriarch of the household and wait until its next session of crying, whereupon someone lets the cat outside only to be forced to let it back inside again.

When everyone leaves the homestead to attend to their daily affairs, the cat sleeps the day away atop the back of our blue recliner, which is nice and peaceful. Until it has to poop. Then, it goes and squats in the same place every time. Every time. And I clean it up every time. Every time.

Unbeknownst to my mother, I’ve proposed that we kill the cat. However, by posting it here, the secret’s out. Therefore, I guess I can’t get away with it. On the other hand, it would be an absolute travesty Lucky accidentally disappeared. A real tearjerker, let me tell you.

I’m currently accepting bids on the job.

Read Comments

  1. Posted by Trizis on 10.15.05 at 17:03:47

    If there’s one thing I’m qualified for…it’s accidents.

  2. Posted by Kyle on 10.15.05 at 17:04:11

    Get me some water, a cup of its favorite food, a toaster, and an extension cord and the job will be done, all I ask is that I can keep what I kill.

  3. Posted by Wendy Peterson on 10.15.05 at 17:04:32

    I can’t believe anyone would want to kill my poor cat!

  4. Posted by Vince on 10.15.05 at 17:04:48

    I once had a cat named Lucky. The neighborhood coyote got a hold of her. True story. She’s dead. So just look for a coyote.

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