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Autumn River Leaves

Pet Kids

Pet Kids by Patricia Lynne (Janke)


Picture a caramel-colored short-haired cat and a black schnauzer-terrior cuddled up, side-by side in their own respective bed, music playing in the background, both snoring away, yes, snoring —one a little bit differently from the other—but snoring. Annie, with her Elf on the Shelf doll under her head, Butterscotch with his Catnip mouse hidden from view.  A picture is worth a thousand words!


I heard the pen drop on the floor from the bedroom.  I peeked  around the corner to check it out.  Butterscotch was on the top of the desk.. I saw him take a pen out of the pen holder, place it on the desk, push it on the floor with his paw.  I then saw Annie put the pen in her mouth and chew on it.  This deadly duo was working together.  I laughed out loud.  “You rascals”, I said.


The next day I was vacuuming, which the pets hate by the way.  They hide so fast at the first sound of the vacuum.  Under my bed, I found a lair of toys, both dog and cat. Then I cleaned under another bed in a second bedroom finding another stash of toys. I put them all in the container they belong in when not in use.  I put the vacuum away.


I turned around to see Butterscotch and Annie taking one toy at a time back under the bed.  “Pardon me”, I thought.


Annie has another hiding place, but this time for treats.  I had gotten both of them pet stress beds, which really are quite nice and set them next to each other.  I often find them lying next to each other in their respective bed.  I decided to launder these beds.  I picked up one and then the other, and lo and behold dog and cat treats fell Out onto the floor.  You see Butterscotch can open drawers.  Inside the drawer, are the pet treats. You guessed it.  Butterscotch got out a bag of dog treats and cat treats and dragged them on the floor.  His teeth marks could be seen embedded in the Treat bags.  Of course, they both hid them in their bed, after munching down a few. I found the empty pet treat bags on the floor of the closet, empty.  Who says pets Aren’t smart?


Annie is a rescue from Texas.  Her schnauzer-terroir looks are quite pretty now that her hair has grown out from healthy food and care.  Annie does not appreciate Thunderstorms, to say the least.  She shakes so hard it scares me.  She hides behind the couch.  She refuses comfort from me.  Eventually she wears out and falls Asleep, but not before Butterscotch cuddles up to her side.  He stays there until the storm stops.  A cat who comforts the dog he lives with.  Pretty cool I’d say.


When Butterscotch is mad he knocks things down.  I have awakened to the sound Of crashing in the kitchen, only to find he has knocked a dish off the counter because his food or water is empty.  Well,how else is he going to let me know?  He also leaves A present of you know what—yes, after I have left him on a trip with a family member.


Also, he refuses to come by me for the first hour that I am back home.  


I often pack my suitcase the day I am leaving so as not to upset the pets.  Butterscotch knows when the purple suit case comes out his master is leaving.


Annie, being a rescue, is very stubborn about where she will go and with whom. She hates going through small entry doors. She hates tiled flooring.  She will sit down and refuse to move.  I have picked her up, all twenty-two pounds, and moved her Gently.  I can only hazard a guess why this is so.


Butterscotch and Annie get along as well as a cat and dog can, I think.  They respect Each other’s boundaries for the most part.  Butterscotch has learned Annie’s growl very well and Annie has felt the sting of Butterscotch’s claws.  


They are both musically inclined.  Their human family listens to music quite often and leave it on for them when they have to leave for a bit.  I sometimes tap to the music on my leg, and Annie has picked it up and also taps her paw on my leg.  


My daughter knits.  That’s right up Butterscotch’s proverbial alley.  I have found yarn in the most unusual locations in the apartment.  I have found knitting needles far from their desired location.  When one knits at my place, it is a pet human affair.  They tangle the yarn, drag it off, bite it, and basically play with it.  Yes, Annie likes to knit, also, lol.


Taking them to the vet is a frantic experience for all.  Butterscotch climbs out of his carrier, and crawls all over everything in the room.  After looking everything over, he returns to his carrier.  I guess it wasn’t that exciting after all.  I have the pleasure of holding again the twenty-something pound cat as the doctor examines him.  I am always glad I cut his nails before we came.  I still, however, get scratched.


Annie, on the other hand, burrows her head into the crook of my arm hiding her eyes

From view.  (Maybe she thinks the doctor can’t see her)


They both run after each other from one room to the next at times.  Some is carpeted, some is not, so sometimes they slide across the hardwood floors. I can almost see them laughing.


Butterscotch snuggles into my lap after his hard day of bathing and eating. Once again, twenty pounds of pet laying on me for hours.  I don’t move until I absolutely have to, waking him up.  I’m sorry, Butterscotch. 


Another really fun moment is Annie’s bath.  Yes, she needs to bathe, trust me. I don’t know who gets more wet, her or me or the kitchen floor.  We also call her psycho dog after a bath because we put a towel down and she rolls and rolls And rolls to dry off.  Such a funny scene.


Butterscotch is envious that Annie gets to go out in the real world for walks. Whenever he gets a chance to run out the door, off he goes.  Of course, he can only go down the hall so we are not too worried, but always bring him home, of course. We are afraid to let him out of the balcony because we are on the fourth floor. If he climbs to the roof, how would we ever get him?


Butterscotch gave us a scare one night.  At our old apartment, he got out at night onto the balcony.  We, of course, were right behind trying to coax him in.  He decided To jump from the second floor, down to the ground, and take off.  Well, neither of us can run so that option wouldn’t work.  As it turns out, the train went by and scared him so much he literally climbed the brick wall back up to the patio and sprawled himself out on the window screen to get back into the apartment.  All four sets of claws embedded into the screen.  Oh, what a night!  Some more grey hairs for the owner.


They two have brought us so much joy, laughter, love, and yes, sometimes hilarious Conundrums as well as scary scenarios,  They are both about four years old now. Hopefully, they will live long well-cared for lives.


Photo of Annie & Butterscotch courtesy Patricia Lynne :)





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