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

[mudshark58.livejournal.com]

Breathe now.

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

holy crap - that is TERRIFYING. :(

[yesididit.livejournal.com]

ugh, i know that panic feeling. i was walking puppy and a family was playing with their dog on a cul-de-sac across the street and up about a half a block. their dog saw puppy and took off running to greet us despite the family trying to call it back. its a busy street, and a car was coming, so i ran out in the road with puppy and waved frantically at the oncoming driver who stopped just in time. then me and puppy walked the dog back to his owners who werent far behind. the dogs owners were as grateful as i was that the car stopped in time. but oh that was an awful feeling.

[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.

[entorien.livejournal.com]

*Cringe*

Yikes! Close thing for all of you! Glad the cat was unhurt, although I think all of you may have shortened lifespans after that fright!

*hugs for everyone, including the cat*