My Very Good, Very Bad Cat

by Amy Newmark

  When I walked into the animal shelter, an associate’s eyes lit up when I said I wanted a black cat. She took me in the back to meet two: Frederica and Abracadabra. Frederica seemed very disinterested and did not like being petted, which automatically eliminated her. But there was something about Abracadabra — his eyes were hypnotizing, and as soon as he walked out of the cage, he spent three minutes rubbing my leg. I knew he was the one.

  After my references were checked I was able to bring him home. I was so excited that I even put up a “Welcome Home” banner, even though he was completely oblivious. I changed Abracadabra’s name to Lucky. Over the next few days, I began to notice that my personality was changing. I became more outgoing. I would ask for what I wanted instead of settling for things. My stuttering became less severe, and I didn’t care about it as often as I once did. I learned that I am okay, and so are others. Although I found out later that my cat had crystals in his urine and would need a special diet the rest of his life, it was a small price to pay for what he was giving me.

  Lucky tested my patience, as all cats do. He’d jump on the television and the kitchen table, and chew the blinds, which led to him being the recipient of some squirts from my water gun. One day, though, when the perfect storm came together, everything was brought into perspective. I couldn’t speak coherently, and I was having the worst day relating to people. I came home and went to bed early. As I drifted off to dreamland, I felt Lucky jump on my back and close his eyes, purring gently. He loved me, and I knew things would work out.

  I’ve been asked if I rescued my cat. The truth is, we rescued each other.

  ~Steven M. Kaufman

  Hero in the Making

  Fun fact: Eighty percent of ginger cats are male.

  It was finally spring and my husband and I planned to take advantage of it. The front door stood wide open, making the porch of our century-old home even more inviting. Clean outdoor scents would replace the mustiness inside.

  I rubbed my lower back and surveyed the flowerbed. Where weeds hadn’t overrun the plantings, slugs had done their damage. The greenery was as lacey as a grandmother’s doily. It certainly wasn’t the sturdy ground cover I’d expected. It would take many more hours on my knees to bring this area back to life after our long winter.

  “Do you want to break for a few minutes?” My husband stood across the entry path, attacking another area of the yard with well-worn clippers. A few stray twigs and leaves clung to his jeans.

  I squinted up at the sun, its rays beating down on us, clear and bright.

  Why not? I rose and stretched, my spine shouting in appreciation as I breathed in the fresh spring air. A cup of coffee or a soda on the porch would suit me fine. “Sure. I’ll grab us something.”

  Just then, out of the corner of my eye, I sensed movement. I turned to see a dog at the end of the street, moving at a steady clip in our direction. I glanced at my husband and shrugged. Another mutt running loose in our town would never make the news.

  “Let me get it this time.” David headed for the steps to the porch.

  The dog, a young Pit Bull, came nearer, his pace never slowing. Fur the color of caramel covered his rippling muscles.

  I’ve met several dogs of that breed, sweet as honey, but something about this one made the hair at the nape of my neck stand on end. He was aching for a scuffle. I could almost taste his aggression.

  He passed the next-door neighbor’s house, as if on a mission, his hackles raised.

  Dave had reached the top of the concrete steps leading to our front door. His relaxed posture told me he had no idea what was going on.

  My breath caught in my throat, strangling any warning I could have offered.

  Two seconds later, the beast scaled our stairs as if he owned the place, confidence and power exuding from his frame like a boxer in the ring.

  I screamed, a terrified yell, which caught Dave’s attention. He stood frozen at the open doorway as the dog rushed past.

  The last time I’d checked, our cat Johnny, who we had rescued from a litter of kittens dumped in our neighborhood, was resting in a quiet corner of the sitting room, near the fireplace. He was dozing in his favorite overstuffed chair, shedding tufts of vivid orange fur on the white upholstery. I’d long ago given up on protecting that piece of furniture from cat hair.

  I raced to Dave’s side, eager to protect sweet, strong, not-terribly-bright Johnny. But we were too late. The dog stood stock-still now, just within the entry, a low growl rumbling from deep within its chest.

  From the overstuffed chair, I heard fast movement, like a soldier snapping to attention. And a moment later, there he was — Johnny! He hesitated for a long moment and then hissed from the seat’s edge, his arched back making him appear half a foot taller.

  Before I could blink, he’d dropped to the carpet, a snarling, moaning sidewinder of four-legged trouble.

  My heart skipped a beat as he sidled up to the stray dog, whose expression changed in a flash. This aggressor now resembled a frightened puppy.

  My gaze met my husband’s. His raised brows said it all. We weren’t going to get into the middle of this mess. We’d clean up the aftermath, if need be, but only a fool would try to break up a battle of this sort.

  Still in full attack position, Johnny advanced, each slinking step slow and deliberate. His eyes were slit like Clint Eastwood’s in Dirty Harry, I’m convinced he transmitted a thought to the mutt: “Go ahead, punk, make my day.”

  Without warning, Johnny sped faster than I’d ever witnessed in the direction of the dog, whose cocked head and dropped jaw registered deep concern. Wide-eyed, the dog spun on his heels, tail tucked between his legs. He raced out the entry doorway and skipped the top stair, airborne. Landing on the walkway, his feet didn’t miss a beat, tearing up the lawn as he crossed.

  Johnny gave chase in hot pursuit of the invader. At the edge of our property, he stopped and sat, glancing back at us.

  The Pit Bull continued running until he was out of sight. We never spotted him again.

  Johnny straightened his back and swaggered into the house, reclaiming the cozy spot on his chair. Like a gunslinger in an old-time western, I half-expected to see him blow smoke from a pistol’s barrel and tuck it back into its holster.

  I sighed. It was over. Dave nodded. “Until the next exciting episode. Right, Johnny?”

  Johnny gazed at us and blinked once, slowly. A few seconds later, he tucked his head beneath a paw and curled up for a well-earned nap. Our little toughie.

  He’s small and has no superpowers to speak of, but he gets the job done when it comes to protecting us. Dave and I have a new hero.

  ~Heidi Gaul

  Meet Our Contributors

  Ruth Acers-Smith was born in Missouri, raised in Golden, CO, and now lives in Bakersfield, CA. In addition to being the mother of three and the grandmother of seven, she also is the great-grandmother of seven with the eighth due in January 2016. Bam Bam lived to be seventeen.

  Mary Ellen Angelscribe is author of Expect Miracles and A Christmas Filled with Miracles, and an international pet columnist. Animal Planet’s Must Love Cats featured her cats doing the “kitty paddle!” Her stories and cat videos can be seen on Facebook under Angel Scribe and Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales. Learn more at www.AngelScribe.com.

  Elizabeth Atwater started writing almost as soon as she was able to grasp a pencil in her hand. The only thing she is more passionate about is her terrific husband, Joe. She also finds joy in reading, gardening, and doing volunteer work through senior services and hospice. She lives in a very small town in North Carolina.

  Anita Aurit is an entrepreneur, eclectic writer and speaker who has been published in magazines and book compilations. She is currently working on a novel and enjoys writing from a feline point of view in her blog, Feline Fine, at www.felineopines.wordpress.com.

  Tori Bailey is the author of the Coming Home series. She is a contributing writer for Georgia Connector magazine and Georgia Home and Life blog. H
er short stories have appeared on several blogs and in A Cup of Christmas. An avid cat lover, Tori shares her home with six rescue cats and her husband.

  Catherine Barry was born in Dublin in 1963 and is a poet, short story writer, journalist, playwright and published author. Her first novel, The House That Jack Built, was published in 2001, her second, Null & Void, in 2002 and her third, Skin Deep, in 2004. Her fourth book, Charlie & Me, a factual story, was published in 2011.

  Elizabeth Batman is a fourth year nursing student at UCLA with plans to become a geriatric RN. She will graduate in June 2016 and is very excited about the start of her career. Elizabeth enjoys reading, writing, embroidering, and spending time with friends. She plans to continue writing while working as a nurse.

  Diane Ganzer Baum has been writing professionally since 2004, beginning with her book titled Patrick the Wayward Setter. She has since been writing fiction for all ages as well as nonfiction. It is her hope that over the years she will have written something that interests readers!

  Garrett Bauman is the author of two college textbooks and stories in Yankee, The New York Times, Sierra, The Chronicle of Higher Education and a dozen Chicken Soup for the Soul books. He and his wife have adopted twenty strays over the years and will not run out of cat stories any time soon.

  Valerie D. Benko writes creative nonfiction from her home in Pennsylvania. She has more than two-dozen essays and short stories published in the U.S. and Canada, encompassing themes such as kayaking, cats, health and family. Visit her online at www.valeriebenko.weebly.com.

  Clara Blake, a writer and a self-defined Crazy Cat Lady, holds a degree in zoology and often works as an environmental consultant when she is not researching. She currently lives in New York City with her husband and their three adopted cats.

  Laura Boldin-Fournier is a previous contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. She has degrees from Arizona State University and C.W. Post. Laura has worked as a teacher and a librarian in New York. Today she lives in Florida and enjoys reading, writing and traveling. Learn more at www.lauraboldin.com.

  Books one and two of Jan Bono’s new cozy mystery series are now available! She’s also published five collections of humorous personal experiences, two poetry chapbooks, nine one-act plays, a dinner theater play, and has written for magazines ranging from Guideposts to Woman’s World. Learn more at www.JanBonoBooks.com.

  Lois Bradley is an illustrator and author, graphic designer, and visual artist with a BFA in Studio Art from the University of New Mexico. Lois is a Published and Listed member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and loves writing for children. She is the proud kitty-mama to four fuzzy felines. Visit her at www.bobbycatandcompany.com.

  Dylan Brody is a humorist and storyteller. He won the 2005 Stanley Drama Award for playwriting and opens for David Sedaris sometimes when he is on the West Coast. He has released five CDs through Stand Up! Records, and two full-length digital downloads through Rooftop Comedy. He feels frequent self-loathing.

  Jill Burns lives in the mountains of West Virginia with her wonderful family. She’s a retired piano teacher and performer. She enjoys writing, music, gardening, nature, and spending time with her grandchildren.

  Dan C. is a freelance writer and aspiring author with degrees in sociology and art. He has many interests, including writing, reading, social science, art, philosophy, bike rides, and learning new facts. He cherishes his family and Frankie, a spunky female Terrier he adopted at a local pet shelter.

  Emily Canning-Dean graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English from The University of Akron. She is a reporter for The Post Newspapers and lives in Ohio with her husband Eric and their fur babies.

  Eva Carter enjoys writing, photography and travel. She has worked in finance and has created greeting cards for Hallmark. She and her husband Larry live in Dallas, TX with a kitten named Ollie, who hopes to be featured in a future Chicken Soup for the Soul story — as soon as he does something noteworthy. E-mail her at evacarter@sbcglobal.net.

  Founded in the UK, but representing artists all over the world, CartoonStock is a searchable database of over 500,000 humorous and political cartoons, cartoon pictures and illustrations by more than 1,000 of the world’s top cartoonists, all available for instant licensing and download.

  Paige Cerulli is a freelance writer who specializes in writing on pet and equestrian topics. She lives in the Berkshires with her two cats, Dylan and Cara, and her Thoroughbred mare, Whisper. Paige loves to write poetry and fiction, and hopes to one day publish a novel.

  Award-winning author Lynette Chambers enjoys touching hearts with her stories. She and her husband Jim live on top of a small mountain in the Ozarks, near where she grew up. When not traveling, they enjoy visits from their children and grandchildren. Learn more at www.lynettechambers.com.

  Radio and television guest Kitty Chappell is an international speaker and award-winning nonfiction author of articles, poetry and three books. Her latest release is Friendship: When It’s Easy and When It’s Not. Kitty welcomes your comments at www.kittychappell.com.

  As a minister Wanda Christy-Shaner has been honing her writing skills all her life. As an avid reader and collector of Chicken Soup for the Soul books, she is honored to be a part of this wonderful publication. E-mail Pastor Wanda Christy-Shaner at seekingtruth65@yahoo.com.

  Connie Cook is a Registered Nurse. She spent ten years of her forty-year career working in mental health and thought she had a good handle on behaviors. But then she met George. Bottom line, the story is all true.

  Harriet Cooper writes essays, humor, creative nonfiction and health articles for newspapers, newsletters, anthologies and magazines. She’s a frequent contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. She writes about family, relationships, health, food, cats, writing and daily life. E-mail her at shewrites@live.ca.

  By day Sean V. Cronin is a manager with several veterinary practices near D.C., but by night he’s a father, husband, and writer. Sean is working on a series of fantasy novels and is a contributor to a new podcast called Nerd Turtle. You can check out some of his work at nerdturtleblog.wordpress.com or e-mail him at seanvcronin@gmail.com.

  Jill Davis lives with her husband Gary in Florida.

  Beth DiCola self-published Homeseekers: Flight to the Mountain under her maiden name, S.B. Broshar. She is sixty-eight years old and discovering a different life through writing. She is currently working on the continuing story in her second novel and is a member of a local writers’ group. E-mail her at diuncola@gmail.com.

  Kevin Dobson received his B.A., with honors, and B.Ed. degrees from Queen’s University and his Master’s of Education, in the Arts, from U of T. He then went on to have an extremely rewarding thirty-year career in education, as both a teacher and an administrator. He is now in the next phase of his journey, looking for new challenges.

  Rhonda Dragomir is a pastor’s wife, Bible teacher, and professional communicator. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree, with honors, from Asbury University. Actively involved in ministry for more than thirty-five years, Rhonda is a flutist, artist, writer, and speaker with a special passion for encouraging women.

  Rita Durrett teaches in northern Oklahoma. She is a mother of two sons and grandmother to four boys and a girl. She belonged to the now deceased cat, Mousey, described in her story, and two big attack dogs that might lick an intruder to death but, she admits, wouldn’t bite unless someone came between them and their food.

  Tanya Estes is a writer, blogger, photographer and mother. She graduated from The University of Texas with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art History and a Master of Science in Library and Information Science. After many years as a librarian, she decided to write in the hopes of one day leaving a literary legacy for her son.

  Trish Featherstone is a retired RN living in the Interior of British Columbia. Her nom de plume is an acknowledgement to her mother, who gave her the gift of loving books.

  After more than twenty yea
rs working in the Hennepin County court system, David Fingerman now spends his days writing and bowing to the whims of his cat, KC.

  Ligaya Flor grew up in a large, loving family whose practical jokes continue to inspire much of her writing. She is currently writing a young adult fantasy novel and fighting writer’s block by training for the San Francisco Marathon.

  Jennifer Froelich is the author of two novels, Dream of Me and A Place Between Breaths, and is currently writing a trilogy for young adults. She graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University and now lives in Idaho with her husband, two children and cat, Katniss.

  Heidi Gaul’s writing appears in several Chicken Soup for the Soul books. In addition to her love for cats, she is an avid traveler, be it around the block or the world. Visit her at www.HeidiGaul.com or reach her via e-mail at dhgaul@aol.com.

  Jessica Goody writes for SunSations magazine and The Bluffton Sun. Her work has appeared in more than two-dozen magazines and anthologies. She was awarded second place in the 2015 Reader’s Digest Poetry Contest. Her poetry collection Defense Mechanisms will be published by Autonomous Press in 2016.

  Kristine Groskaufmanis has been writing in her journal since she was eleven years old. She lives in Toronto with her husband and their dog Bella, who they are convinced is half Muppet. She is a big fan of staying at home in her pajamas and watching too much TV.

  Leslie Gulvas is a mild mannered high school science teacher, freelance writer, and former scientific researcher. She travels whenever possible and writes novels. When not wandering, she lives on a farm in Ohio with the world’s cutest donkey and a very confused pig.

  Rachel Lajunen Harnett is a teacher with a passion for writing short stories. She runs (often chasing her husband, two kids and Great Dane!), bikes and plays Ultimate Frisbee. Rachel is a graduate from Carleton University’s journalism program. She lives in Toronto.