And now for something completely different... (Page 2/2)
williegoat APR 06, 02:41 PM
Marko APR 06, 08:43 PM
Take a trip to Ernest Hemingway's house in Key West, Florida.

Hemingway had an affinity for polydactyl cats, and left a trust, that cares for them roaming around the house.
82-T/A [At Work] APR 06, 09:30 PM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

What is the significance of "The Larch"?




Patrick! I am offended. I insist that you start watching the entire Monty Python "Flying Circus" series from start to finish.

Monty Python had several episodes one here where, in between skits, they would say... "And now for something... completely different."

and it would pitch over to a forest, and the narrator would say... "The Larch." .... "The Larch!"
Patrick APR 07, 05:31 AM

quote
Originally posted by Marko:

Take a trip to Ernest Hemingway's house in Key West, Florida.

Hemingway had an affinity for polydactyl cats, and left a trust, that cares for them roaming around the house.



Yes, I came across the Hemingway connection when I initially ran a Google search for "cats with thumbs". Here's a Hemmingway cat. Look at the freakin' size of that mitt! lol




quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:

Monty Python had several episodes one here where, in between skits, they would say... "And now for something... completely different."



The funny thing is... when I titled this thread, it was Monty Python's use of that phrase that I was actually thinking of and mimicking. But I have no recollection of "The Larch".
Patrick APR 07, 05:48 AM

I forgot to mention that I returned the cat to it's family on Saturday. They were overjoyed to get him back again after an absence of at least three weeks. They probably figured he was a goner by now. If it's not a car that usually gets 'em, it's a coyote. They wanted to give me a reward. I refused any kind of reimbursement. Instead, I asked them to please use the money on the cat. I strongly suggested/encouraged them to get him neutered and microchipped. I kind of miss him already... however, my resident cat has been doing cartwheels since his departure. Even though this young male cat had the sweetest disposition, my (female) cat didn't like him. She's delighted he's no longer on her turf.
Patrick APR 14, 09:36 PM
So yesterday morning (a week after I had returned the wayward cat), I was in my kitchen... and in through my open back door waltzes that cat again! I had no idea how long it might've been gone from it's home this time (seven blocks away), so I offered it some food which it eagerly consumed. I emailed the cat's family, to tell them their cat had returned to my yard. It took several hours for someone to respond. It turned out that the cat had escaped their home just that very morning. It apparently made a beeline immediately for my place. Anyway... by this time, the cat had moved on. I told them I'd let them know when their cat was back on my porch... probably around dinnertime.

A couple hours later I got an email from the cat's family, telling me the cat had returned. This is so bizarre. The cat escapes from its home in the morning... crosses seven streets to get to my place... sponges a meal... and then goes straight home that afternoon crossing seven streets again.

As much as I enjoyed the visit, I strongly reiterated to the family that they need to get this young male cat neutered before his roaming ways get him terminated by either a car or a coyote. And no, if he turns up here again I won't be feeding him. He obviously knows his way home, and the last thing I wish to do is to encourage his wayward journeys!

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 04-14-2024).]

MarkS APR 15, 10:25 AM
I don't know how they do it but a cat can travel miles & miles to get back home. One heck of a built in homing device.
maryjane APR 15, 10:38 AM
One of the problems with a wandering cat in an urban setting, is that people it encounters, think it's hungry (sometimes, they are right) and they feed it. That's sets up a pattern of it wandering about to several different known food sources. A neutered well fed at home cat won't wander about much, especially if it doesn't find any handouts on it's first couple of walkabouts. That cat is either bored at home, is looking for some tush, or hungry.
Patrick APR 15, 05:02 PM

quote
Originally posted by maryjane:

That cat is either bored at home, is looking for some tush, or hungry.



The previous time this cat "visited" me, he stayed for three weeks before I drove him home (after learning where he lived). I guess what I find so strange is that he came straight here last Saturday after escaping out of his home, stayed for one meal, and then went straight home on his own.

It's actually kind of funny... a fourteen block round trip for him just to say "hi" (and grab a snack). But as stated earlier, I don't want to see him get injured or killed during these excursions. I've implored upon his family to get him neutered, and I definitely won't feed him again (which no doubt had helped motivate him to re-visit me).

I quite like this cat (both his paws and his behavior are so interesting), but my resident cat doesn't like him... so it's best if he simply does not come by this way again.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 04-15-2024).]