The Curious Incident of a Cat in the Day-time

Being a little bit crazy is a prerequisite to live and work here. Ruprecht and I fulfill this criteria admirably. I don't know if it is like attracts like or learned behaviour but our animals are just a little bit crazy too. Saxon's antics with the Currawongs are a case in point.

Sammi the cat is also in the running for the crazy-and-proud-of-it badge. Sammi is usually a regular cat - ignores you, sleeps all day, complains loudly for food, messes with your head about wanting to come in or go out of the house (yes she has a cat flap). But sometimes, just sometimes, she wants to be a dog.

Ruprecht and I often have morning tea down at Maru, that's about a 60 metre walk from the house. Saxon is always excited about this, she loves being outside with us. So off we trot, across the grass with our tea and biccies. Saxon runs ahead to show us the way and delights in picking up the scent of the rabbits who refuse to respect our rabbit proof fences. She hangs around long enough to get her biscuit, then she's off on her mission to sniff out rabbits.

Now sometimes Sammi decides to join us. She doesn't bound ahead (although she has been known to rival Superman in the 'faster than a speeding bullet' claim). She doesn't like walking on the grass. She's long haired and the grass rubs on her fur. The grass is often damp. She doesn't like damp. Sammi is easily spooked by noise. There are lots of noises in our garden, natural, and the dulcet tones of machinery on other properties. So Sammi doesn't like noise. And Sammi doesn't like surprises.

Yet with all these hazards, she dons her dog persona and makes the trek down to Maru. It's a bit like the Spanish Inquisition where the chief element is surprise......surprise, grass and noise....I'll come in again!

The trek consists of several steps along the way, careful contemplation of her environment, maybe sniff a flower or eat a blade of grass.... don't want to hurry these things. She takes so long we are usually ready to wander back up by the time she gets there!

So last week she was Lassie for the day. We were at Maru, kicking back, and Saxon was off on the trail of a rabbit. We often see the rabbits charge across the lawn while Saxon heads off in the opposite direction.

Ruprecht spied Sammi. She had made the trek across the gravel, not a biggie for her, and had just made it onto the grass. There she stopped and stared at us for a few minutes. Confident that nothing was lurking in the bushes, she ventured another few metres down the lawn.

Now unfortunately a very daring rabbit (Peter?) was in the garden that day. Like a scene out of a slapstick comedy , Saxon was charging around in the garden in search of the rabbit's scent while the rabbit made its escape across the grass. Unfortunately this was just behind Sammi. Sammi stopped in her tracks in surprise - just a rabbit - not acceptable but not too freaky. But then Saxon bolted past behind her, hot in the pursuit (OK maybe not so hot) of her prey. More surprise, lots of noise, and ,god, the grass is long and wet!

Sammi turned and fled back to the safety of the house. Did I mention the speeding bullet metaphor?

Such a comedy of errors. A belly laugh moment. Gotta love living here with our very own Laurel and Hardy act!