Tag: cats

It Is Raining Cats And Dogs

The yapping sound brought me to the window.

The poodles came first, their fluffy bodies cushioning their falls. And then I saw dachshunds…the lucky ones landing on the poodles. The unlucky ones were snatched up by the dog catcher and taken to vets, or put down on the spot.

People were shouting and crying. It was heartrending.

The cats were last. Many of them managed to land in trees or on roofs.

So, that is how I acquired my little family here: Fifi, Fifi #2, Fifi #3…I just call them two and three. Then, this is Dash. Zach and Zorro are out back. Ooh! This sweetie who just jumped on my lap is Catherine, and those three sleeping on the couch…Bernie, Bernice, and Troy.

I still get nervous when the forecast calls for rain.

________________________________________________________________________________________

*This was written a few years back to an online class prompt. The prompt being “It is raining cats and dogs.” While going through some piles of papers recently I came across this little piece. We have a real need for rain right now and got teased with a few drops yesterday. Anyway, I thought it would be fun to share.

—

The Extraordinary Visitor

Our security cameras have photographed some interesting critters coming to our yard. We have recorded visits from opossums, coyote, rabbits, deer, rats, an owl, raccoons, a ringtail cat, and rodents. And over the years we have had neighborhood domestic cats appear on film, a few that we recognize as return visitors. But, on the night of August 18th, 2023 around 3:00 a.m., one of our cameras got triggered 3 times and recorded a most extraordinary visitor:

Cat 1 Still and Video

I had been hoping that one day we would record a bobcat or even a cougar. The first thing my excited brain said was “Bobcat!” But, then I realized that the tail was long.

Cat 2 Still and Video

Cat 3 Still and Video

After looking at my North American field guides and striking out, I went to the internet searching for small cats with striped tails and came across the website of the International Society for Endangered Cats (ISEC) Canada (WildCatConservation.org/wild-cats/asia/jungle-cat/ )

According to their site, I think it is something called a Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) native to Africa, India, S. Asia, S.E. Asia, and China.

There is another cat called an African Golden Cat (Caracal aurata) that looks similar.

I haven’t seen any notices of a lost exotic cat. I still need to check with local zoos. I did talk to my local Texas Game Warden and sent him the videos. My best guess is that it was an exotic pet that escaped. Our heat and drought have been intense and I imagine it slurped up some water from our pond and maybe nabbed a toad for dinner.

If any of you have a better i. d. for this critter, please let me know.