I've been pet sitting for a long time. Pawsitively Pooches has been around since 2010 but I started in high school (around 1999). When I worked for a vet after college, I had a few clients that hired me for when they were out of town and was active in a local animal welfare organization where I got a couple other clients. One of the first clients I had that I didn't actually know (I had swapped a couple of emails with her but that was it) hired me to stay at her house on the recommendation of our mutual friend, the director of the non profit I was involved in. I just had to stay at her house and play with the dog and feed the cats. I could do that. Here's what happened.
I got to the house and the dog was tied up out front sleeping on the stoop. That was very strange. She told me he'd be in the house. Plus they had a fenced yard, why would he be out front? I texted her to let her know I was there and mentioned his odd location. She said that was weird but her boyfriend was the last to leave and maybe he was just forgetful or something. I shrugged and went off to find the cats. The cats loved to hide and two were mother and daughter and looked almost exactly alike. I found one, but couldn't find the other anywhere. I messaged mom that I didn't see her and asked her for any less likely hiding spots than the ones she had already told me about. She gave me a couple. After about 20 minutes, I still hadn't found her. Mom called me and asked me to check the windows. I did, and sure enough, the screen had been torn in a window that was open. The pup had broken through the window and taken off. A neighbor recognized him and brought him home, tying him up out front (Ohhhhh). OK, well this isn't good. This kitty was very small, and not overly healthy or tough. What if she went outside??? Mom really didn't think she would but we were worried. I continued looking and after another 20 minutes or so decided to sit down and be quiet, in the hopes that she would make herself a little more visible if I wasn't banging around with increasing panic. I sat down on the couch and pet the dog, found the remote, and turned on the TV. I looked up to see what to watch... and there she was, sitting quietly on top of the TV wondering what all the fuss was about. I could see both her and her doppelganger so I knew it was her. I breathed a sigh of relief and called mom to tell her she was fine and relay the funny story. We both had a good laugh and the rest of the trip went off without a hitch. Phew.
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Hostage Situation
I wonder if there's a SWAT team for being held hostage by a cat. There should be. It would give them a new image, that's for sure. They come barreling in (hut hut hut) in full gear carrying toys for the cat to swat at, while you run away. Get it? SWAT team? Heh. I'm sure you're wondering how I could possibly be held hostage by one little house kitty. After all, I'm in and out of people's homes all the time. I deal with hundreds of cats and dogs every month including some dogs that aren't really sure they want me to be there. In fact, I was only in this house to walk the dog. I didn't even need to go anywhere near the cat! But there I was, at the top of the stairs with the door shut wondering how I was going to get down the stairs with the door open but without the cat attacking me. Let's start from the beginning.
Deuce is a big, happy boxer that needed to go potty while his mom and dad were out for the night. I had to check the water for the cat but he had plenty of food and his litter box had already been done. I went upstairs from the garage and took Deuce for a nice walk. When I brought him back for snuggles and pets (his favorite), I noticed the cat giving me the stink eye. Well, cats just give stink eye right? Probably nothing. As I walked through the apartment he stalked me. Weird, but not overly concerning. When I crossed out of the kitchen he launched from the floor onto my leg, holding on with his teeth. I yelped in surprise and pain and shook him off my leg. I turned to face him and we squared off. He wanted to come at me again but wasn't willing to do it while I was staring him down. I backed out of the room and shut the door and called his mom. He had never done that before. Hmmm. He was on the other side of the door yowling. Mom could hear him. I managed to get in and check his water, patted Deuce on the head (who had no interest in getting in the middle of this showdown), and backed out again. Easy peasy right? One thing though, the litter box is at the bottom of the stairs. The door to exit is also at the bottom. I have to open the door at the top of the stairs and get down the stairs to get away from Beelzecat before he launched at my head. Which is exactly what he tried to do every time I opened the door. I called the trainer I worked with. She gave me a few (ultimately useless) suggestions to get out. Eventually, I grabbed a plastic bag full of plastic bags and a baseball bat. I got down as low as I could and cracked the door enough for him to sneak through. I was halfway down the stairs when he ran in and chased me. He leapt at my face and I threw the plastic bags at him, turned and sprinted down the stairs. I made it! Kitty foiled! I could still hear him yowling on the other side of the door. I told mom that I made it, 45 minutes after his initial attack, and limped home where I soaked my wounds and marveled at what I weird life I have.
Epilogue: Mom was actually a friend and I went back to see if he was the same or if he was weirded out because mom and dad weren't home. He stalked me the whole time and hissed if I got within a few feet. They have since moved but he's still a stalker of pet sitters. Now that they know, though, they can be prepared!
Deuce is a big, happy boxer that needed to go potty while his mom and dad were out for the night. I had to check the water for the cat but he had plenty of food and his litter box had already been done. I went upstairs from the garage and took Deuce for a nice walk. When I brought him back for snuggles and pets (his favorite), I noticed the cat giving me the stink eye. Well, cats just give stink eye right? Probably nothing. As I walked through the apartment he stalked me. Weird, but not overly concerning. When I crossed out of the kitchen he launched from the floor onto my leg, holding on with his teeth. I yelped in surprise and pain and shook him off my leg. I turned to face him and we squared off. He wanted to come at me again but wasn't willing to do it while I was staring him down. I backed out of the room and shut the door and called his mom. He had never done that before. Hmmm. He was on the other side of the door yowling. Mom could hear him. I managed to get in and check his water, patted Deuce on the head (who had no interest in getting in the middle of this showdown), and backed out again. Easy peasy right? One thing though, the litter box is at the bottom of the stairs. The door to exit is also at the bottom. I have to open the door at the top of the stairs and get down the stairs to get away from Beelzecat before he launched at my head. Which is exactly what he tried to do every time I opened the door. I called the trainer I worked with. She gave me a few (ultimately useless) suggestions to get out. Eventually, I grabbed a plastic bag full of plastic bags and a baseball bat. I got down as low as I could and cracked the door enough for him to sneak through. I was halfway down the stairs when he ran in and chased me. He leapt at my face and I threw the plastic bags at him, turned and sprinted down the stairs. I made it! Kitty foiled! I could still hear him yowling on the other side of the door. I told mom that I made it, 45 minutes after his initial attack, and limped home where I soaked my wounds and marveled at what I weird life I have.
Epilogue: Mom was actually a friend and I went back to see if he was the same or if he was weirded out because mom and dad weren't home. He stalked me the whole time and hissed if I got within a few feet. They have since moved but he's still a stalker of pet sitters. Now that they know, though, they can be prepared!
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