Lassie the Cat

When I was in college, way back in the late '70s ... I had a sudden attack of Fur-sickness. The disorder came about gradually, but then it caught up with me all at once. Fur-sickness, for those of you who have never suffered from this affliction, is what happens when you realize that there are no pets in your life. It is a close cousin to Home-sickness.

Before I knew what was happening, I found myself browsing the nooks and crannies of Mary's Pet store. The place was alive with puppies, kittens, birds, gerbils, guinea pigs, rats, mice, fish,  turtles, and lizards. Critters were all over the place.

The funny thing about that visit, was that most all of those critters paid very little attention to me. I suppose they were used to gawkers, poking bald gawker noses in and out of their cages. Even the puppies seemed more interested with chewing on each other's tails.

But then, I walked past a little cage full of kittens. Same story there, except for one little white-faced kitty with a pink-nose. She was standing up on her hind legs, and looking me right in the eyes, meowing with all her might.

(don't stop... there's more)

Of course, I stooped down to have a little chat. The odd thing was, she seemed almost desperate to get to  me, while her pen pals were busy snoozing or pouncing on each other.

I didn't have a lot of cash, being the stupid college kid that I was. (I'm still stupid... just no longer in college). Just on a whim, I asked the lady how much were the kittens. Ten bucks, she says... and wouldn't you know it, I happened to have fifteen bucks in my pocket.

There was just no way that I could leave that little white-faced, pink-nosed kitty when I had the power to take her with me. And so that is just what I did. I gave the lady her ten bucks and tax, and she handed me the little pink-nosed fur ball.

There was kitty gratitude shooting all over the place, as she purred and rubbed her face on my chest. She looked up from the crook of my arm into my eyes and closed them, purring, and kneading me with sharp little kitty claws.

I never purchased anything before or since then, that appreciated the fact that I had purchased it. This cat knew where she wanted to be, and I consider myself blessed to have been her choice.

What to name her... hmmm, something different but not stupid or gross. Well, of course it had to be Lassie the cat. Not that she had any canine qualities, but she was smart. Whenever I fell down a cliff, she would run and meow until the park ranger followed her, and rescued me.... wait a minute... I guess that didn't happen. But she was smart nevertheless.

She loved to hang close too. If I was playing the piano, she was laying on top, keeping time with her tail. If I was typing, she would try to catch the typewriter hammers, until she decided that I had been typing long enough. Then should would just lay on my hands so I couldn't move my fingers.

Lassie was an accomplished hunter as well. One apartment that we shared, was an old two story house, situated behind a big supermarket. A side-benefit to this place, was a never-ending supply of cockroaches. They lived in my silverware drawer, the bottom of my toaster, and sometimes under my bed sheets. Lassie had a blast chasing them down; although, I could have lived without the sound they made as she chewed them up.

One day, for some reason, I had a bunch of people over from one of my classes. They were all sitting in a semi-circle on my couches, just sort of chatting quietly. From the hallway, came a galloping and a clomping noise that I recognized as my pet cat. The floors were wooden, and she loved to run and slide on them.

This time, as everyone's attention was focused on the hallway door, a dark object came flying across the floor and stopped right in the middle of everyone. It spun like a top very fast. When it stopped it was clearly one of the largest cockroaches I had seen yet.

All the girls screamed.

Then Lassie came leaping into the room, pounced on the cockroach, and proceeded to eat it.

All of the girls and the boys screamed.

Lassie and I spent a lot of time together, and except for a short stint at Grandma and Grandpa's house, she was my roommate for several years. In fact, she was with me when I met my wife, and she lived with us at least until our first son was old enough to remember. I don't recall exactly when she was gone. Things get sort of foggy once kids enter the picture.

No doubt about it... Lassie chose her own destiny, and I am very glad that it included me.

Copyright ©2007 by Phil Harris

Comments

[Leigh]

That was a really wonderful story. I loved it. Gave ya' a stumble. :)

[Phil]

Thanks Leigh,

Glad you liked it.

Phil

[Katy]

Сockroaches are really disgusting. So your cat is a real friend! ;)

[GPS Pet Tracking]

Hi just found your blog. I look forward to reading more.

[Nick]

I am just seeing your blog.
I also - like Kathy - look forward to reading more.
:-)

Please check out my pet/animal forum http://www.pets-galore.net/forum

[Cindy S]

What a wonderful story. I thought I was the only one with pet sickness. I went for 2 years once without a pet. It's nice to have someone who is absolutely thrilled to have you come home at night...

[maureen]

There's is something in the saying that your pets choose you..not the other way round. Nice story!

[Susan]

What a cute story! I was petless for a while and then a beautiful yellow lab entered my life. I can't imagine life without a pet now!!

[nameless]

can't wait to get to know you better!

[nameless]

can't wait to get to know you better!

[kaps]

hi

very good blog u post

visit this dog site
http://www.epetsstore.com

[Babs (Beetle)]

Lovely story. Life without a pet would be unbearable to me.

[Pet Meds]

Great story and I am glad things worked out with Lassie :)

[Merri]

I like your blog it has a lot of cool things.

God bless
www.mydoggilicious.com

[industrial poppy]

I love this story-it made me recall the first time I was old enough to make a decision to own a pet (cat). I have never looked back...and it's true-they definately choose us :)

[Luisa Lapus Tiong]

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