A parable that is based on a true story:

True story part: Lady Armadillo and I were adopted by a cat many years ago. He was a juvenile (no longer a kitten, but not full grown) that had markings very similar to a bobcat. He also had an extra toe on each paw, which led me to name him "Hound Dog" after the Chicago bluesman Hound Dog Taylor, who famously had an extra digit on each hand.

We didn't allow Hound Dog in the house; he hadn't been fixed and we didn't want to deal with he problems related to a male cat in the house. Also, we had a Daschund named Clapton who would have had an absolute conniption. It was nice to have an extra mouser around the house, though.

Very quickly, though, we found out that Hound Dog had some issues. He was ignorant and needy and would not leave us alone. If I was outside, he couldn't just be near me--he had to climb on my back while I was trying to bend over and do the weeding or gardening, and I nearly accidentally ran over him with the lawnmower because he would run right beside me the whole time. Strangely, this feline rarely slept...only a few hours a day.

The final straw was a wonderful spring night--perfect temperature to leave the windows open and enjoy the cool air. Hound Dog climbed up and hung on to the window screen and howled because we weren't paying any attention to him...at 3:00AM.

Lady Armadillo slapped the screen to scare him off, but we had to shut the windows to get any sleep. We agreed to stop feeding him, with the hope that he would go away. It wasn't easy (I have a hard time not feeding a hungry creature, be it human or animal) and it took a little while of ignoring him, but he finally left.

Every word of that story is true.

There's an ignorant and needy presence hanging around here lately. I've fallen victim to feeding this particular critter many times--even a couple of times today. 

But I know that if we all ignore this particular cat (no offense to any felines or feline aficionados), it will eventually go away and feed someplace else.

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

I'm guilty of doing this SA. I will stop the practice as of now. Thanks for talking some sense into me!!

I guess I will stop feeding the stray..........

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The few mice that went away during Hound Dog's residency at Chez Armadillo were not worth the aggravation of his presence.

Likewise, it's somewhat depressing that The Stray Down Under's threads will go on for 6, 7, even 8 pages...and no nuggets of wisdom can be wrung out of any of them.

I'm bringing in the milk saucer.

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

I agree SA!...and will comply.

Fatten him up enough and he'll die of a burst girth.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

do you mean Gut? unless that's some hood talk I am not familiar with

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When the snow leopards (twins, a brother and sister) originally brought themselves to our doorstep the very first thing we did was whisk them off to the vet to be DONE. It worked instant wonders with their feral personalities - as you see. Don't know if that thought adds anything to the parable...?

Now. This:

To be faintly serious for a rare moment, I'm not sure that nothing good comes of the whole episode. When the gentleman in question first arrived it didn't take long before people were getting pissed off - and saying so. However you, SA, made a valiant effort to take him under your wing and show him better ways, and you did it with calm tones and kindness. That showed great generosity of spirit, which in my book is the highest human characteristic of all. It's not true that nothing useful was wrung from it: for starters it got you talked about nicely in other places (erm, pubs) by some of your fellow Forum friends. "Good report" is no small thing, and that Whippersnapper couldn't benefit from your works is neither here nor there.

I could add to that, and have been intending a more plentiful version for SuperKid's Screamin' Armadillo thread, when the moment arrives. I shall hold it in reserve.

So regarding Whippersnapper's future here. I take what you said elsewhere about "issues" not excusing behaviour. I also have some experience in that department and go with you on it up to a point. However, without going further into what they may be (which would be unpardonable on a public forum), issues there surely are in this case. Down the skinny copper wire and across the WiFi of hyperspace there is nothing we can do to help with that, except move on to other things without adding to the situation and making it worse. I like to kid myself that civilisation has progressed a touch since the Middle Ages and don't care for the idea of bear baiting. (However much he seems not to notice.)

You're one of the good guys, SA. Let it go. Onward and upward.

Cheers - C

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Girth = stomach

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Learn something every day

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I have a few fat cats, one of which sleeps just like that. My biggest one is a Russian Blue and he tips the scales at a hefty 25 lbs. His stomach used to drag on the ground. I guess he lost weight.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Hi Buxom: I heard a scientist claiming that humans are the only animal that can sleep on their backs. Nonsense: she does it all the time, for hours at a time. When she's not sleeping like this, that is:



Cheers - C

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My cats sleep quite literally everywhere they fit. I have a very large, TKL P-Bass case with plush interior. I had my guitar in it and I left it open one day and my cat was curled around the headstock. It would have made for a great pic.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

my wife's stupid cat thinks its OK to sleep on the top of my "Expensive!" battery analyzer for the warmth I hope one of those 24 volt lithium polymer packs pops and burns it alive mwahahahahaah

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I have one that likes to get in the shower and roll around. She also likes the smell of bleach.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic