The cat that claimed to be no one's fool

[lizblackdog]

My second-worst* dog walk nightmare nearly happened today.

Spike and Squish and I were walking home from the One Stop. We turned the corner from Jewell Road onto Throop Road, and there was an orange cat lounging in the grass on the corner. We nearly stepped on him. The dogs freaked; the cat freaked, and naturally enough, the cat ran like hell.

Right into the road, right into the path of an oncoming car.

Orange cat was probably not feeling lucky today, but he was luckier than he knew. That car was coming round the corner and already going slow, and the driver saw him. When the car came to a stop its front bumper was just touching the terrified cat's back; but the cat was unhurt.

My dogs were on-leash, we were walking along a pavement. They were not chasing the cat or out of control. If the cat had been killed we would have been technically blameless. "Technically" being the operative word here.

I'm just very, very relieved.

* The very worst nightmare would be the dogs breaking/yanking the leash out of my hand and being in the road themselves. This has also nearly happened to Squish once, which is more than sufficient for any one lifetime, thank you.

Comments

[silverblaidd.livejournal.com]

That's one of the things I worry most about when out walking (or driving), or trying to catch loose dogs. It's terrifying to see them turn for the street.

Also, all of this, and people STILL argue that keeping their cats indoors is cruel and unusual, and outside is a safe, happy wonderland of rainbows and unicorns. Fuck every one of those people.

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

Wordy McWord Wordsson with a side order of fried WORD.

I'm so tired of other people's cats disrupting my walks. And this cat was lucky; but I know one day I'll walk into one that won't be and I just cringe to think of it.

[silverblaidd.livejournal.com]

I have to go out into the fucking yard before letting any of the dogs out to try and curb any cat-shit eating that might happen, because people's cats shitting in it constantly. Which, you know, with most dogs is just nasty, but with my dog, COULD ACTUALLY KILL HER.

I want to strangle everyone of these people with my bare hands.

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

...send one of the other dogs out first to clear all the cat shit up for you? I'll lend you Squish for the purpose if you like.