Cat Tails
PET BULLETIN
‘Mews and Yips’ from the Central Aroostook Humane Society
By Gail Wieder
What a nice summer we have had so far. Hopefully the fall will be a good one, too. In just a few weeks we will start to see the leaves changing color, to the red, yellow and oranges that Aroostook County is so famous for.
This is my favorite time of year. The air is crisp and clean. I know what comes after it — ugh! — snow, but if you have lived up here all your life, we should be used to it.
I know that most of the time my stories are about dogs. I am that crazy dog lady, and yes, I do say “Hi” to my dogs. I am the one who changes her voice when I’m talking to animals. In the past couple of months I have heard some funny cat stories and thought you might enjoy reading about them. 
Working with the public on a daily basis, I get to hear some really great animal stories. A nice lady came into the office where I work the other day and we starting talking about cats. This lady said her cat was very smart. When she wants to go out or come in, she rings a bell that is hooked to a window, so the cat can get to the bell whether she is inside or outside.
Apparently this woman had some surgery, and when the cat wanted to go out it was too far for her to walk to the door. The window was closer, so she had a neighbor put a ladder outside up to the window, and when the cat wanted to go out, she would let her out the window and the cat would then climb down the ladder. When the lady wanted her cat to come in she would go to the window and ring the bell, and the cat would climb the ladder and come in.
Now, whenever the cat wants to go in or out, she rings the bell. (Hmmm … now that IS one smart kitty). I thought this was the craziest thing. I didn’t know you could teach a cat to do this. I would say this is one spoiled cat, but isn’t that the way it should be? We love our feline babies.
I have a friend and coworker who recently adopted a kitten from the Central Aroostook Humane Society; Herbie is his name. Herbie is trouble. He loves water, and if someone is in the shower, watch out — Herbie is in there with you.
My friend bakes a lot, and one morning before she was leaving for work Herbie decided to get in the pantry and see what kind of trouble he could get into. Well, the trouble was in the form of a 10-pound bag of confectioners sugar he pulled off the shelf and it broke open on the floor. Did you ever try to sweep up confectioners sugar with a cat trying to get to the sugar? Herbie runs into the bathroom, jumps into the wet shower and back out to the powdered-sugar mess. My friend took a picture and all you saw was little wet paw prints through the sugar.
Herbie also likes to get into the bathroom sink when they are brushing their teeth. He is one bad cat. When he finally settles down, Herbie is also very lovable. He rubs his face on my friend’s face for kisses. Her is still a kitten, and I am sure will get into more trouble, but he is a lot of fun and they love him.
My cat, Zoey, I got from the Central Aroostook Humane Society about 13 years ago. She is a beautiful cat, a little on the funny-looking side because she has a small head and a large body, weighing in at 19 pounds. About a month ago she started doing something she has never done before: bringing her trophies into the house and depositing them on my kitchen floor. I get up in the morning and come out to the kitchen and never know if I will find a mouse on my floor. This I am not happy about. She is a cat and cats hunt; at least it gives her exercise and that is about the only exercise she gets, besides jumping on a chair to sleep.
Check out the CAHS if you are looking for a feline friend. We have some wonderful cats that need loving homes. Our hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., closed for lunch from 12-12:30. Be a responsible pet owner by having your pets spayed and neutered.
Gail Wieder is a member of the Board of Directors of the Central Aroostook Humane Society.
