Guest Meows!
This is Larry for Ariel. She and her two cats, Harry and Emily, gave us some wonderful Cat Chat articles this month. We are gratified that we can offer this regular article about some wonderful cats and their human bean with visits by a dragon! Please visit the Memorial Page for Ariel's mother. Click the cat wagging its tail graphic to visit their net home. Thank you. Now here is Harry, Chester, and Emily with Cat Chat:


Cat Chat 9-6-00
Trapping Freeloaders

Harry: There sure has been alotta citment round here lately. See, Mom decided she had had enuff of them freeloading cats that come round here alla time.

Emily: Yeah, specially that nasty ole tom what sprays stinky stuff all ober our nice deck!

Harry: Yes, specially him! But Mom tooked care of him good! See, what happened was, we heard this turrible caterwauling and shrieking and we thought oh no! Another kitten! Well, it was, but not one to keep. See, that ole nasty tomcat had gotten this other freeloader cat full of kittens, and she brought them back here to eat. When Mom saw those kittens she told Mom2 we have to do something right away!

Emily: She sure did. She were furry upset. So she went out to da storage buildin an got dis box and caught up one ub dem kittens. Da oder kittens, day ran like lightenin, day did! So Mom brought in dis screaming kitten and put it in da box, and den she tried to catch up da oders. Only it weren't dat easy atall.

Chester: It sure wasn't! Those kittens did not want to get caught! Well, meanwhile Mom2 was on the phone to see if they could get a trap to catch all the bigger cats.

Emily: Yeah, a hooman trap! Heehee!

Chester: No, a humane trap! A human trap would be a trap to catch humans. A humane trap is a trap to catch animals without hurting them.

Emily: Oh. Whateber. Anyways, Mom2 found dis place called da Hoomane Society where Mom could get a trap, only she had to rent it! Mom2 were mad bout dat, but Mom said it were worth it to get rid ub all dem freeloaders. So Mom tried agin to catch more kittens, but day runneded and runneded, so she just went off wid da one an got da trap and da beans at da Hoomane Society, day said day would take da kitten an take care ub it an find it a home. An Mom says it were so cute she's sure dat dat is true.

Harry: So, anyways, Mom come home with the trap. And without the kitten. But so, she went out, and she managed to grab the other three kittens and stick them in a box. The third one really screeched and scratched her too, but she had alla kittens now. So then the thing was to get the moma cat. So she put some of our good cat food in the trap and set it, and before too long the moma cat was in the trap, just like Mom wanted.

Chester: Well, it took more than that. The moma was more interested in her kittens than food, so Mom put the kittens, that she had put into one of the cat carriers that she has, right next to the trap so the moma would try to get near them. And sure enough it worked, but then Mom made a big mistake!

Emily: I'll say! See, what she wanted to do was to put da moma cat in wid her kittens so as they could be together. Now, Mom nosed a bean what would take the cats and kittens, but dis were Sunday, and the bean wouldn't be round 'til Monday, so dat's why Mom took the first kitten to the Hoomane Society. She really didn't tink dat she would be able to catch alla oder kittens an da moma so fast.

Harry: Well, as it turned out, she didn't. Cause when she went to put the moma into the carrier, that nasty moma, she decided she wanted to get loose more then she wanted to be with her kittens! Can yous magine that? What a mean moma cat! Mom got her halfway in the carrier, and then she turned round like a snake and tried to run. Mom grabbed her tail, which was the only part of her Mom could get to. And that nasty moma cat turned round just like a snake agin and bite Mom hard on the arm. Mom didn't give up, tho. She tried to grab the moma cat's neck at the back. But the moma cat bit her hand. Then Mom let go and off that cat runneded lickety split. She come back an hunged around, but wouldn't get into the trap agin. So there Mom was stuck. She had the kittens but no moma and she was bleeding all over the place!

Chester: Mom2 was real upset. She ran and got some alcohol and poured it on Mom's arm, and Mom washed the bites real good and put a bandage on too. Then she went out a baited the trap again. But like Harry said, that moma would get near that trap again, no matter what. So Mom ended up catching that nasty tom cat. That made her happy, because she really wanted to get him gone off our property. And the funny thing is, when she went to puthim in another carrier so she could try to catch the moma cat again, he went it with hardly any trouble at all!

Emily: I nose, dat made no sense atall! Yous would tink dat dat mean ole big nasty tom would be more trouble dan dat moma cat, but he weren't atall! He jus went right in...well, Mom did hab to tip up da carrier and close da door almost on his tail, but he didn't run fast like dat moma. So, Mom went and set the trap agin. Still dat mean moma cat would go in da trap. Mom caught her bruder instead. So now she had alla carriers and da trap full, and early da next mornin she tooked dem all to da bean what said day would take dem. Da beans weren't too sure ifn day could habilition dat tom cat, cause he was old and wild and stuffers, but at least day were away from here an dat's da portant ting, I meow!

Harry: Them beans nose how to take care of kitties like that--not what I cares what happens to that tom cat! He was a menace, fur sure! So, anyways, after Mom tooked alla cats to the cat bean, she come cleaned the trap, cause da little white cat what was in it had made a mess of it. It's sittin out front waiting to dry off fore she sets it again. There are two more cats to try and catch--the little gray tabby one that is alays meowing at the back door, and the big white tom what alays used to fight with me when I used to go out. Oh! And the moma cat, ifn she ever shows up again.

Chester: I bet she doesn't ever come back. She was a bad moma cat, and besides I bet that trap scared her away for good!

Emily: I sure hopes so. It will be great to not hab any freeloaders hangin round!

Harry: It sure will! Then this really will be our place, all to ourselfes!

Emily: Now ifn we could jus talk the Moms into getting rid ub dat monster kitten! Heehee!

Harry: Humph! Fat chance of that! Speak of the devil! (stalking off)

Atom (running up): Oooo! Yous is writin da clolum. Me wants to say sumfin!

Emily: Grrrrrrr.....(whap) No way. Dis is our column. Besides, we're done.

Atom: Den I'll jus pway wid yous tail! Teeheehee!

Emily: Hey! Hiiissspppiiiittttt! Grrrrrrooowwwwww! (running off with Atom following.)

Chester: (sigh) Well, we'll tell you all next week if Mom got all the freeloading cats. See you then!


Cat Chat 9-13-00
More Trapping

Chester: Well, Mom caught almost all of the freeloading cats. She got the little grey tabby the very next time she set the trap, and took him to the Vet. Those vets are really nice, to take these cats and make sure they're healthy and find them homes. Mom checked back with them and they said the kittens and the little grey tabby were doing just fine.

Emily: Yeah, an day is out from our fur, which is da bestest ting!

Harry: That's fur sure. And guess what? Chester was wrong bout that mean moma cat. Mom caught her the day she had to take the trap back. Mom's doctor was happy, cause he wanted the vets to watch the cat fur signs of rabies, which is a nasty thing to get, I meow! And the Vet beans were happy cause of that and cause they wanted to check her for feline lukima. Chester: That's feline leukemia.

Harry: Yeah, that. Anyway, that is a horrible sickness what kitties get. Tinker and Fuzzy Bear and Captain Beyond all died from that. So the Vet beans, they can test the moma and see if she has it and then they'll nose ifn the kittens have it. See, the kittens are too young for the Vets to test them, and they don't want to adopt the kittens to other beans ifn they are sick. Mom hasn't had time to check the last few days, but she is gonna check on them all tomorrow and see how they are, cause Atom has to go to the Vet again. He's been throwing up and Mom doesn't nose why. She nose why I throws up. It's cause I have a tyriodal problem. And Em throws up causea all her hairballs!

Chester: Emily is one big furrball! Teehee!

Emily: Yes, I hab a bootiful coat ub fur, I does! It takes lots an lots ub grooming to keep it all nice, so sometime I hab to throw up a hairball. All kitties do dat sometime, I meow!

Atom runs in: Yous is writtin da clolum agin, me nose it! What is we saying bout dis time? Huh? Huh?

Emily: Hiiisspppiiitt!! Get away, yous monster yous! How many times does we hab to tell yous dis is our column?

Atom: Dat's right, our clolum. Me's an our. Me bin catchin motheses! Day is so fun to chase! An day is yummy too!

Emily: No one cares bout your motheses! Go away!

Atom: What is we talkin bout? What be freeloadin cats?

Harry: A freeloading cat is a cat that...why am I even talking to this thing?? Cheese whiskers! We don't have time to splain things to yous! Go chase something!

Chester: Atom, a freeloading cat is a cat that comes around the house begging for food.

Emily: Grrrrr. Yous alays encourage dat monster! Dis is our column, not his!

Chester: He is part of our family now.

Emily: Humph! Is not! He jus lib here cause Mom an Mom2 won't throw him out. Grrrrrrrrr.

Atom: Me seen dem cats what yous call freeloadin cats. Day alays hunged round da back door. But me habn't seed dem fur days and fureber now. Is dat why we is talkin bout dem?

Harry: (sigh) We are talking about how Mom trapped all the freeloaders and took them off to places where they could have their own homes instead of hanging round here and begging.

Emily: Yeah, an spraying nasty smells too, an wantin to fight wid me too! The rotten nasty tom cats! I is glad they is all gone. Well, but they isn't all gone. That's da ting. See, Mom had to take back da trap cause she only had it fur a little bit ub time. And so she didn't catch the big white tomcat that hab alays bin hangin round makin trouble fur long as I can member! Yesterday he come up da steps like he owned da place an he akshully fought wid me!! I beat him up good, but den Mom come out an chased him away and yelled at him. I hates dat cat!

Harry: Yeah, me too! I fought him fur years and years. He never figured out that this is our territory, not his! And now he is still here, and has the place all to hisself, and thinks he really. owns the place! I wisht that Mom had caught him.

Atom: Me'll goes an beat dat cat up, me will! I cin beat him up good, I mew! Den he won't boder nobody no more!

Emily: Hmmm...dat's a thought. Let the little monster go tangle with that tom. No matter who loses, we win!

Chester: Emily, that's mean! Atom can't tangle with that cat! Harry fought him for years and never won, and he got hurt too. I mean, look at his ears! Mom was always afraid he'd get hurt bad. That cat will kill Atom. Besides, he's not allowed to go out.

Emily: What would be so bad about that? I means, that is sorta da point, yous nose? Sides, I nose I can sneak him out when Mom an Mom2 aren't looking. Heehee!

Harry: Em, I really don't think that is a god idea. The little monster gets on my nerves too, but having him tangle with that old tom is not the answer.

Atom: Me wants to go out! Me wants to go out! Pwease, pwease, me wants to go pway in all da stuffers outside what me cin only sees now. Pwease? (bouncing up and down)

Emily: See? He wants to do it!

Chester: Absolutely not! Don't even Think about trying to let him out! If he got hurt Mom and Mom2 would be extremely upset, and very mad at you for helping him to get out. They might even take you off to someplace where you'd have to find another home.

Emily: I didn't tink ub dat! Day wouldn't really, would day?

Harry: They sure would be mad ifn anything happened to that kitten! Anyways, he'll outgrow all this crazy stuffers just like you did.

Emily: I was neber like dat!

Harry (rolling in the floor): Haahaahaahaahaa!

Emily: Humph! Well, we still hab da problem wid dat cat. Mom was talking bout getting our neighbor beans 30-at-6. I doesn't nose what that means tho..

Chester: It is a shotgun, She was just kidding, She wants to be rid of the cat too, but she would ever kill it. I think she's going to go rent the trap again. Then we'll be rid of that cat once and for all. Maybe she'll even catch that grey tailed one that stunk up the old trailer!

Harry: That would be a good thing. Then there wouldn't be any stray freeloaders left in the neighborhood at all! That's the way it should be. Kitties need homes, not places to beg and beat up on other cats. And make more kittens.

Emily: That's fur sure. I hope she gets that trap soon. I's most sceered to go out wid dat cat still loose. But not so sceered I'm not gonna go out! No way, this is my place!

Chester: Well, you be careful until that cat gets caught.

Atom: Um...does dis means me doesn't get to go out? Me wants to go out!

Chester (picking up a wad of paper): Here, go chase this.

Atom: Oh boy! A crinkly paper ball! I lubs crinkly paper balls! Teehee! (running off).

Chester: So easily distracted! Heehee!

Harry: Too bad it isn't so easy to get rid of that tom!


Cat Chat 9-22-00
Great News!

Chester: We have some wonderful news for all of you. Mom2 sold her trailer! She is so relieved to have that over with.

Harry: You bet! It was a tough fight getting that trailer ready and sold. It was, like Grandpa bean says lots, most doomed from the start.

Emily: It sure was! We tol yous all bot the nasty unfriends what stoleded stuffers from Mom2 an didn't do no work hardly atall, an how Mom had to go an clean dat trailer all by herself, wid Grandpa hepin some. Well, dat were only da start of it all. I mean, we thoughts dat oncet dat trailer was clean and da ad put in da paper fur it dat it would sell like a flash! But it didn't an didn't an Mom2 got more an more frustrated an mad and upset. She was specially getting madder an madder at dem unfriends, cause ifn day had done what day was sposed to hab done, Mom2 woulda had da trailer in da paper before all da Florida Beans went back to Florida an den eberyting woulda bin purrfect! But dat jus didn't happen, eben tho Mom workeded as fast as she could. So, anyway, da Florida beans was all gone, an den all sortsa bad stuffers happened!

Chester: Oh, it makes me furious just to think about it. Human people can be so mean, I just don't understand! First of all, the person who owned the trailer park that Mom2 had her trailer in decided to sell it, and all sorts of rumors were flying around. Some of the neighbors told Mom2 that the new owner wasn't going to let people have washing machines. If that happened, that would bring down the price of her trailer. And the guy who owned it, he wouldn't tell her anything at all!

Harry: Yeah, it was really bad. Mom2 was fit to be tied! She didn't nose which way to turn or what to tell beans that called bout the trailer, so all she could do was tell them what she nosed fur sure. So then finally this other guy bought the park, and it took a while but Mom2 got hold of him and he was saying semi-retirement park, no dogs, no partying, no kids. So Mom2 had to turn down a buncha beans. And too, a buncha the beans what called, they wanted Mom2 to finance it fur them! That is just asking too much, I meow!

Emily: Yeah, an some was so dumb day thoughts dat day would get a trailer an da land too fur $8000.00. Now, that sounds like a lot of cat food, but it is nothing fur a trailer, an yous can't eben buy a itty bitty bit ub land fur $8000.00 round here! Some beans gots no brains atall!

Chester: But that wasn't even the worst of it. Because Mom2 went and met with the new owner and after they talked fur a while he said oh, I don't really care who you put in there--he meant sell the trailer to. He said, they can have kids or whatever, as long as they don't make noise and disturb the neighbors. Now Mom2 was really mad, because she had turned down a buncha people with kids and people who were too young according to what the new owner said at first, and so now she had to try to call them all back. Well, that didn't work very well at all. And poor Mom2 was getting more and more frustrated by the day!

Harry: But he didn't say a thing about no washing machines, so that was a big lie that got Mom2 all stressed out fur nothing! Stupid beans! Why do they tell lies like that? I just don't understand beans atall sometime.

Emily: Me either! Day jus don't make no sense when day tink--ifn day tink atall, an I don't tink dat beans in general hab no brains to tink wid! Anyways, you'd tink dat woulda been da end ub all da trouble, but it weren't atall. Cause den deese two beans what lib on one side and da oder ub Mom2's old trailer started makin trouble. Da one, he be a Jehovah's Witness bean, an beans like dat, day is sposed to be extra nice an neber be mean and tell lies or nutin. But dis guy, he jus didn't lib up to his Jehovah's Witnessin atall. He started to park his car closer an closer to Mom2's trailer so as when beans came to look at it, day would tink well, dar's no place to park. So Mom2, she talked to him bout it twicet, an he cussed her like he don't hab no God in him atall! Mom says dat's da trouble wid a lot ub beans what claim day is Christian. Da puts on dis big show an but day really habn't got no God in dem, day is jus big liars. An dis bean sure is one ub dose kinda beans. It's disgustin it is!

Harry: And the bean on the other side, she is getting old and senile and crotchety and she was telling all the beans what come to see the trailer that they couldn't run the air conditioner past 8 in the night. That's furry early to be turning off the air conditioning, I meow! She says it's too loud and she can't sleep, only but she never complained when Mom2 lived there. She only started when Mom2 moved in with us! That woman isn't right in the head, I think.

Emily: Hey, Harry, maybe that's your problem. Yous are always meowin dat you habn't been fed and yous jus got fed a few minutes fore you start meowin. Maybe yous is gettin senile! Teeheehe!

Harry: I'll senile yous, yous fat growly thing! I'm just hungry alla time, that's all. I has to keep up my strength, yous nose!

Chester: Well, by this time Mom2 was about to go crazy and was about ready to just give the trailer away. Then she got a call from a buyer, and everything sounded great. It wasn't as much money as she had wanted for the trailer, but she was ready to get rid of it. So just to be nice she called the new owner of the park and told him about the buyers, and he got upset because it is a husband and wife and the husband is Mexican. Now, this doesn't make any sense to me at all, but some people think other people are no good just because they come from another country or their skin is a different color.

Harry: That's just plain silly, and mean too! People are people, no matter what. You can not like people cause of the way they act, but it's stupid to not like people just because they look or talk different.

Emily: Yeah, like I said, beans jus don't make no sense atall sometime. Us kitties aren't like dat. We aren't mean to people causea da way look or talk!

Chester: You're mean to Atom. Just last week you wanted to send him out to fight with that big tom.

Emily: Yeah, but not cause ub his color or nutin. Dat's cause he's a menace! It's not da same ting atall!

Chester: Pretty close. Admit it, you just don't like him because you want this to only be your house.

Emil: Well, ub course! We didn't need no oder cat round here! It's not da same ting atall, I meow! Humph! Anyways, we is getting offn da subject. See, da new park owner bean wanted to meet the beans that were going to buy the trailer, oncet he found out one was a Mexican. Mom2 was so upset she was most in tears! She nosed dat dis guy was a bigot an would do eberyting he could to make sure dese beans wouldn't buy da trailer ifn he met wid dem. So Mom an Mom2 got on da phone real fast and calleded eberybody day nosed what might nose ifn dis guy could make her let him meet her buyers. An both Mom an Mom2 got hold ub lawyers--dose be beans what nose what is legal in bean society--an da lawyers said dat nasty bigot park owner bean didn't have no right atall to meet da buyers cause dar wasn't anyting written nor eben said bout dat til he found out one were Mexican, an Mom2 didn't agree to do dat. So...

Chester: So Mom told Mom2 sell the place and run! The park owner can't do a thing as long as the people that bought the place abide by the park rules. So Mom and Mom2 met the people down at the bank and traded the title to the trailer for money and now it's all finally done! Mom2 is still kinda numb and not happy because she had to get so stressed out by all these people that were trying to not let her sell the trailer. But she's happy it is done and she doesn't have to worry about the trailer or those mean people anymore.

Harry: Mom is really happy cause Mom2 is done with the whole mess. She was worried bout Mom2 while all this stuffers was going on. But, so, the trailer is sold, and now Mom2 is here with us in our happy home forever and ever.

Emily: Yeah, and no mean people to hab to talk to anymore! Now we can just settle down and be happy all together an Mom2 can get better health wise cause she don't have all that stress stuff on her no more. Whew! I's glad that is ober and done wid! I tink I'll go an lub on Mom2 fur a while an let her nose eberyting is gonna be alright from now on.

Harry: That's a good idea. I'll love in her too, whenever she comes and sits on the couch. But right now I'm gonna take a catnap on my pillow. And dream of no more troubles fur any ub us! Even if Atom is hogging the pillow. Hey, yous, move over!


Cat Chat 9-30-00
Cage Time

Emily: Well, we nose we hab tol yous dat Atom can be lotsa trouble. An he gets in trouble alla time too! We eben mentioned cage time before, I tink...

(In the background): Mew! Mew!

Harry: Yes, I'm sure we did. See, whenever Atom gets in real bad trouble, Mom or Mom2 puts him in the cat carrier for a time out. They call it Cage Time. They nose he is just a kitten and gonna get in trouble, so they save cage time fur when he is really really bad!

(In the background): Mew! Mew!

Chester: The big thing that Mom and Mom2 get upset about is when Atom tries to get out of the house. He is allowed on the deck, but not outside.

Emily: Yeah, the Moms nose he doesn't hab enuff brains to stay away from da road. An we is closer to da road den in our old trailer. Dat kitten don't hab da brains dat God gab an ant, I meow. I nose he come from da road, but ifn he got back up dar, he wouldn't nose enuff to stay outta da way ub cars atall!

Chester: And that's the whole problem. They don't want the little fellow to get run over.

Emily: Little pest, yous means!

Chester: Well, sometimes. But he is getting better.

Harry: At what? Getting into even more trouble?

(In the background): Mew! Mew!

Emily: Yous got that right! Da bigger he gets da more trouble he gets into! Mom2 was furrious da oder mornin cause he'd got up onto her desk and knocked eberyting off! She nosed it wasn't me or Harry, cause we don't do stuffers like dat anymore. An last night he were playin kitten on da keys til Mom closeded da piano. He is a menace, like I's alays said!

(In the background): Mew! Mew! Mew!

Harry: But like Chester said, he gets in the biggest trouble when he tries to get outside. The Moms have gotten two super soakers--they are like big water guns--that they keep at the front and back door and they squirt him ifn he tries to get out. But he still tries anyways.

Chester: I know he doesn't understand why you two can go out and he can't.

Emily: Well, that's jus too bad! We nose how to take care ub ourselfs outside, but that monster kitten doesn't. Eben tho I's still kinda like to see him try to tangle wid dat big white tom...

Chester: Emily!

Emily: Ok, ok. I nose dat is mean. But he gets on my nerves, he does! Eberytime I comes in da house he attacks me! Den I hab to beat him up good jus to get him to leab me alone!

(In the background): Mew, mew! Mew, mew!

Harry: I nose. He is alays trying to chew on me too. But then he'll lick me and be sweet. He is a funny fellow. Yous all prolly hear all that mewing in the background. Well, that's cause Atom was specially bad today, and is in the cage cause of it. See, it all started after Mom went to the store today. Mom2 had left the door to the deck open cause it was kinda warm. So when Mom come home, Atom was out on the deck. Now, she warneded him not to set a paw outside, but out he went like a flash and her hands were full and she couldn't grab him. So as soon as she set down her packages, she went and got the super soaker.

Emily: This is the part I likes da best! Heehee! See, Atom gots hisself under Mom2's car, an Mom come down an gave him a good squirt and poof! Up he runneded up da stairs like a flash. But Mom had a lot more bags to bring in. She warneded him not to set a single paw outta da deck. But soon as she had her back turned he was outta dar lickety split. An dis time he didn't hide under da cars. Oh, no! He figgered out dat was a not so good idea, he did, da little monster!

(In the background): Mew, mew! Mew, mew!

Chester: Mom wasn't sure at first if he was hiding under the day bed or if he'd really gotten out. So she hauled all the bags up to the house and then went looking for him. But like Em said, he wasn't under the cars. Now Mom was getting mad, and worried too! She looked under the day bed, and shook a bag of yum-yums trying to get him to come back, but he wasn't paying her any attention at all! She was really getting upset then, because she knew that if she didn't find the little monster he might get hurt, and Mom2 would be mad when she got up if Atom was missing. So Mom left the door to the deck open, hoping Atom would come back. Then she started to put away some of the groceries and ate some lunch at the same time, because she was getting tired like she always does in the afternoon, and it was way past her nap time.

Emily: Mom was all sighing and unhappy and didn't nose what to do. She lookeded under da cars, eben doe I tol her he wasn't dar. But so just before she decided there was nothing to do but go ahead an lie down fur her nap, she decided to open the back door an see if da monster were out there. Sure nuff dar he was, wid a big leaf in his mouf! Well, he dropped dat leaf quick and took off to da corner ub da trailer, den stopped to see if Mom were following. She was, so he runneded around da trailer and stopped again. She was still following, a whole lot faster! So he did da only smart ting he ever done in his life a runneded up da stairs as fast as he could. Mom caught him at da house door an scoopeded him up an tol him he were a bad bad kitten.

Harry: But that wasn't enuff fur Atom. As soon as he got in the house he started tearing around like crazy, attacking all the grocery bags and making a mess. Mom decided she'd had enuff, so she went out an got the cage an put him in it and told him it was cage time fur being so bad. Then she carried him into the bedroom, cause cage time works best ifn he can see stuffers going on and wants to get out and be in the middle of it. And that's where he is now, scritching and scratching and mewing. Heehee! He'll be sorry when she lets him out.

Emily: But he won't learn, I meow! He'll try to get out again, jus watch an see!

Harry: Of course he will. But ventually he'll learn that being bad means going in the cage and not having any fun. Course, us cats are sposed to train our beans, not the other way round, but when it's a kitten you're dealing with you have to set limits. That's why the Moms have the super soakers, so as Atom will learn that there's some things he just can't get away with. Like attacking me, fur one!

(In the background): Meewwww, meewwwww!

Chester: Do you think she'll let him out anytime soon?

Emily: I hopes not! Mweeheehee!


Cat Chat is © 1999 - 2008, 2009 Ariel, Emily, Harry, and Chester the Dragon. All rights reserved worldwide. This column may not be reprinted in part or whole without express permission of Ariel.

Poetry Corner
“Infinity” 10.1.00 
by L. E. Shaffer © 2000 L. E. Shaffer

© 2000 L. E. Shaffer

Hockey Puck
The National Hockey League Florida Panther had an excellent preseason. They almost went undefeated and had their best preseason ever in their history. Pavel Bure is still a skilled and exciting goal scorer. The Panthers have outstanding goal tending and a tenacious defense. Hopefully, this will all result in a Stanley Cup.

In the National Football League, the Miami Dolphins are surprising everyone by being very good early on. Their defense is just super too. The Tampa Bay Bucs look like super-bowl favorites so far. Even the Jacksonville Jaguars are doing well.

I have been unable to get excited and watch the Olympics. I liked the opening ceremonies and the lighting of the flame. The aborigine who lit the flame at the least was a stirring moment knowing the history of Australia. This is about like us and the Native Americans. Most of the events are just plain boring. And the ones that were possibly exciting were boring too.

NASCAR is still racing at its best. I watch each and every race. I root for my favorite drivers which are many. Tony Stewart won the last race. I don't care much for short track racing, but a little bit of it I can stand. I like the super speedways.

The Atlanta Braves win again in the Major Baseball League. I liked it when both New York teams made it to the playoffs. I only watch the playoffs and the World Series, I am afraid. Games during the season just don't hold my interest like hockey does. I like to go to baseball games. Watching sports events live is always quite enjoyable and fun.

I missed watching Tiger Woods smack golf balls and win tournaments. I am sure the other golfers are equally as exciting, but I am an unabashed Tiger Woods fan. Otherwise, golf is another yawner for me.

Guest Articles
Anita Wilson left us several poems to publish before she died. Here is one to enjoy:

"Summer Dawn"

Feel the rays of the sun, just rising
Their warmth caressing you all over
While a breeze tugs gently at your hair
Playfully tossing a curl in your eye
Hear a bird sing the first fluting song
Echoing through the still misty trees
A melody so sweet, it aches, a greeting
To the new day that is dawning
Colors are painting the lightening sky
Rosy hues that color your face
And touch your lips, like the sweetest kiss
A moment,  when there is only you
And nature's gift of beauty and joy
A lover,  that so quietly comes
And leaves,
For the glare of a new day

© Copyright 2000 Anita Wilson, Australia