Okay. Time to tell a little story. There is this cat that roams the neighborhood. For the past year or so, I have seen him trotting about everywhere around the block. I often wondered to whom he belonged. The one day I happened upon the owner who told me she often travels for work and just lets her cat roam. I don’t actually own any cats but run in circles with those who do, but I didn’t realize this was a thing. If I let my dog roam while I was away, I’d never see him again!
At any rate, this cat seems to be well fed and cared for. Truth be told, he is rather stocky and seems to enjoy his groceries. As for the breed, you got me. He is just fat and apparently happy. He is also highly inquisitive and has an ambitious sense of adventure that seems to be on full throttle. Lately, however, he has spent appreciable time in and around my yard, much to my little dog’s dismay. I cannot determine if this cat is taunting my dog or just happily observing him…or both! The cat, whom I call Felix for lack of remembering his name when the owner told me months ago, loves to hop up on our wooden fence and just sit upon his lofty perch staring down at the rest of the world below. For the most part, he minds his own business. He will march to and fro across the yard and then ambush a few flower beds. No harm. No foul. He loves to hide in the wilderness lands just beyond our fence, and, of course, what my eyes cannot see due to the brush, my dog picks up on instinctively. He knows when Felix is “out there,” just beyond his reach. Drives him nuts!
One day when I went out into the garage, there was Felix! “What the heck?” I said out loud. The garage door was closed. I presume he snuck in when last I was out there and didn’t make a strong retreat once the door was on its way down. Fortunately, it had only been a brief amount of time and he didn’t seem any worse for the wear. I quickly ushered him back outside.
For a few months, I didn’t see Felix and wondered if he had met a terrible fate. Did his owner move? Did Felix run away? Did he find another family to stalk? Then one day, he showed up again. Guess he got bored with wherever he was and decided to come back and pay me a visit. He shows up at least five times a week and makes the rounds in and around my yard. Again, no harm, no foul. He just minds his own business.
So, in an odd sense, I suppose I have a cat by proxy. I don’t have to feed him or take him to the vet. I do, however, acknowledge his presence and let him do as he pleases. We seem to have a pretty good relationship now, so I suspect he will stick around. Besides, Felix seems to enjoy watching my dog “attempt” to catch him, but we all know that will never happen!
I think everyone needs a Felix in their backyard…and in their lives!
Written by Ann Butenas
An internationally-recognized author and writer, Ann began her professional writing career at age 12 and began speaking while in college. She has been published thousands of times over the past three decades in all media forms, was former editor and publisher of KC Metro Woman magazine, and has also hosted three talk radio shows in the Kansas City area.
