Oh man! Last night was wild. I didn't get home until 8:30, as I had stopped at my Mother's house for supper. The thermostat said 67, and I thought I would warm things up, so I shoved it up to 70. I had bird seed that I needed to get out, so I went outside and started that project. After a few minutes I realized that the furnace hadn't kicked on yet. (It vents out by the bird area, and there was no smoke.) Hmmm. I went back inside and considered the problem. Aha! The electrician had been here the previous week to get the outdoor lights working. Perhaps he hadn't turned something back on when he was done.
This meant I needed to make a trip to the cellar. Eek! I thought perhaps I could do it quickly, without the cats noticing. (Normally, I lock them in the back two rooms when I go downstairs.) I made it down okay, then realized I really needed a light. I went back upstairs, banged on the door to scare any cats away, then opened the door. The bang hadn't worked. Snuzzles took off around my feet and down the steps.
Well, we both went feral. There is mouse poison and probably dead mice down there. There are little nooks and crannies and ewwww. "Snuzzles," I wailed. "You're going to die."
He wailed back. I don't know which of us was more wild. He hid in a corner behind some old water heaters. This was an area where they used to dump coal. Black kitty, coal bin, dark. Got the picture. I went back upstairs for my big light. Came back down, turned the light on into the corner, green eyes shone back. He knew I was too big to extricate him from that little space.
But aha again! The primeval, built-in lessons were kicking in on both our sides. I had a broom down there. I poked at him, and he took off again.
We went back and forth like this for several rounds. My flashlight grew dim. (Snuzzles had eaten up the charging cord for it a couple of months ago.) At one point, I ran upstairs to get a dish of food with which to entice him. And at long last I prevailed. I don't know if I tired him out, or what, but finally I was able to snatch him. He didn't fight me anymore.
We all slept well after that workout last night.
6 comments:
Oh that brings back so many memories. Trying to catch a cat that doesn't want to be caught, or is too freaked out to be caught, is the pits! Glad you prevailed in the end.
By the way, did you get the furnace working?
I was wondering the same thing? :)
Erm, no. I'll call the electrician dude on the weekend.
Whew! What a stressful encounter. Snuzzles must be very lithe.
Stella will always try to get out, but she's big and cumbersome and almost always heeds a stern NO! Sometimes she ignores that and a shouted "Get inside!" then works.
Glad everyone's okay.
You know, I was mighty surprised at Snuzzles, Kathryn. Sierra is the one who usually feints to the outside door. I don't know what got into him, except mebbe eau d'mouse
You're looking mighty fine, woman!
:) :) Thank you!
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