Cats Tuesday: Charlie again!

Scout keeps a close eye on Charlie's wild-eyed antics.

I have written before how difficult it is to live with Charlie. These photos illustrate more of his behaviors, which by themselves are benign enough. But dogs and other cats always are extra vigilante when Charlie is around.

Charlie has one habit that drives me mad. If he is out, he has a complicated procedure for coming back into the house. He won't come inside if I am outside. He has to wait until I enter the house. Then I have to close the door and knock on the window of the door. Then he will come to the door and sit. I have to knock again. And then he will pick himself up and walk in. But only if I stay behind the door. If I move in the wrong direction, he retreats back out and we have to follow the procedure all over again.

Charlie watches Law & Order

One summer night I came home from my algebra class at my normal time of 9PM. I drove into the garage, got out of the car, and started towards the house. On my way to the door, in the dark, I saw a white bushy tail. I bent over and grabbed for it, trying to circumvent Charlie's coming-in-dance so that I could relax as soon as possible.

I just missed that tail by no more than an inch! I growled, "Charlie! Get into the house! It's late and I'm tired of this game!" Of course, he ignored me and went the opposite way. I continued into the house. "That cat!" I told Amy and Wingnut (my grandson). "He can stay out all night as far as I'm concerned! I am so tired of this!" Amy looked up from the computer, Wingnut from the TV.

Amy said, "Mommy, I made sure all the cats were in early tonight. Charlie is asleep upstairs."

I stopped dead. If he was asleep, who was in the garage? Wingnut and I ran back through the house, turned on the outside light, and stared out the window. There was the biggest, fattest skunk I had ever seen in my life! Wingnut roared with laughter, and I was horrified at what I had nearly caught in the garage.

You notice here that Charlie doesn't even have white on his tail! And it certainly isn't bushy!

Last summer, Charlie, Buddy and Zorro made friends with the skunks and they all sleep and play in and under the barn together. While the skunks dig grubs out of the ground at night, the cats hunt. They are nearly side by side! You hear stories about cat and skunk friendships frequently here but I never thought my ornery, territorial boys would be their friends.

Occasionally, Charlie sleeps.

Thank you for visiting. Happy blogging!

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