ETCETERA

NIGHTCAP

've always loved pets, but I didn't
have a pet during my adult life
until I got married. It wasn't fair
to them because I was never home
during the day.
When I married last year, I be-
came the proud adoptive papa of
Oliver, a tan, fur-shedding, lover-of-
all-things-edible pug; and Chloe,
a Russian blue feral cat with the
stomach of a seasick passenger and
the stalking skills of a paparazzi.
If there were a dating website for
single dogs, Oliver's profile would
include cuddling, long walks at the
lake and barking at delivery trucks.
Oliver, 8 years old, is vocal (he
snores), an independent thinker
(he won't follow commands) and
a brilliant negotiator (he won't
come back inside unless promised
a treat).
Because his grandpa appeared at
Westminster, Oliver is a bit arrogant
around other dogs, and he will try
to dominate the larger dogs during
our walks with furious barking and
pulling of leash. Dogs of similar size
— 22 by 9 inches with 3-inch clear-
ance between belly and pavement
— are of no bother, because they
are, well, too small to bother.
Chloe, about 5 years old, was
found at a friend's house, rummag-

I

It's A Dog's/Cat's Life

By Harry Kirsbaum

"The one absolutely unselfish
friend that man can have in
this selfish world, the one that
never deserts him, the one
that never proves ungrateful or

treacherous, is his dog!'

—

George Graham Vest

"Time spent with cats is never

wasted!'

— Sigmund Freud

"The problem with cats is that
they get the same exact look
on their face whether they see
a moth or an axe murderer!'

— Paula Poundstone

Oliver and Chloe

ing for food. When my wife took her
home, she discovered Chloe was
pregnant.
Lying on a thick blanket in bed,
Chloe gave birth to six kittens, all of
whom found loving homes within a
couple of days.
Chloe is pure house cat. When
awake, she'll spend time on the
front porch or a windowsill, or in
a corner of a room staring and
waiting for prey to jump. She'll stalk

the house, crawling on desks and
tables searching for something to
bat around. When she finds some-
thing — usually a roll of stamps,
a paperclip or a rubber band (and
usually at 3 a.m.) — she will bring
it to our bed, mewing loudly with
pride. Otherwise, she can be found
sleeping on the corner of the bed,
or a couch or a chair — and will
wake only when someone comes
home.
She loves her brother Oliver, and
the feeling is mutual. In the morn-
ing, he will sit next to her and lick
her ears, and she'll let him.
When Oliver came home from
bladder stone surgery after four
days at the vet last year, we were
told he should spend most of his
time the next few days in his crate
to keep him safe.
Chloe, who wandered around
the house looking for him while he
was gone, spent the next six hours,
purring happily and lying in front of
his crate.
There is nothing better than
coming home after a long day at
work and snuggling on the couch
with my wife and our dog and cat,
watching Animal Planet because
cable news makes Chloe vomit.

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38 March 2013 1

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