Tag: wandering cat

Local Cat Enjoys 7 Meals A Day From 7 Houses

The resourceful cat has mastered the art of meowing adorably and appearing hungry, tugging at the heartstrings of seven neighbors who all think he doesn’t get enough to eat.

NEW PALTZ, NY — It’s not easy playing the part of a hungry stray to seven different families in a one block radius, but local cat Tangerine says he makes it work by sticking to a strict schedule.

“I’m always at the green house at 7:45 am sharp, ’cause that’s when the kids leave for the school bus. When they see me they call out to their mom, who’s usually got tuna or eggs for me,” the enterprising feline said.

From there it’s on to the three-story Dutch revivalist house on the corner, where a retired gentleman calls Tangerine “Rusty” and offers him a generous bowl of kibble.

“The key is to master the plaintive meow and to look just a bit unsure of yourself,” Tangerine explained, “like you haven’t had a meal in ages and aren’t sure where your next meal is coming from.”

But Tangerine isn’t nearly done after only two houses. The crafty cat has his stops all planned out and knows the routines of every one of his neighbors, a feat of efficiency and logistical planning that would make FedEx envious.

If the weather’s nice, the orange tabby will settle down for a rest in the neighbor’s yard, which has flowers that are particularly enjoyable to defecate on. If it’s chilly or raining, Tangerine heads back home for his morning snooze.

Immediately after First Nap is the highlight of the morning: a visit to the Bacon House where the inhabitant, a 47-year-old software engineer, has bestowed the name Simba on Tangerine and always offers deliciously crispy bacon, the feline said.

A visit to Bacon House
Visiting Bacon House is a highlight of the day, never to be missed. Image: PITB

Next it’s Second Nap followed by Fourth Meal at the wrap-around porch two houses down, which provides ample shade for subsequent snoozing. The people there call Tangerine “Creamy Delicious” and offer him a wide variety of palate-pleasing treats.

Tangerine prepares for the visit by rolling in the dirt for a minute or two, making himself look scruffy and unkempt.

“You poor thing!” the woman who lives there often says as Tangerine nuzzles against her hand and meows cutely. “You probably haven’t eaten since yesterday!”

The rest of the afternoon through early evening takes the orange tabby between three additional homes where he enjoys diced chicken, crumbled sausage and occasional steak.

By the time he’s finished his rounds, Tangerine is drained and returns home to rest.

“It’s not easy doing that much eating and sleeping,” Tangerine said with a wide yawn. “If it were easy, every cat would be out there like I am with the side hustle.”

As of press time Tangerine said it was too early for a formal announcement, but said he’s been working on “considerations of sleep and logistics” that would allow him to expand to an ambitious route of nine houses and nine meals daily.

Family’s Cat Keeps Coming Home Wearing New Sweaters

Papa Legba, a cat from El Paso, has made friends with one of his neighbors who likes to make sure he’s warm on his neighborhood rounds.

When Crystal Robert and her family adopted a stray cat in 2019, they quickly learned he was an expert in sneaking out even though they tried to keep him indoors.

Now they know he’s got at least one “other family,” because Papa Legba, as they call him — named after the mythical intermediary between the physical and spiritual worlds in west African folklore — frequently returns wearing sweaters.

Yes, that’s plural. Papa’s mystery second family has sent him home wearing a blue striped sweater, a solid-colored pink sweater and, for the holidays, a traditional “ugly” Christmas sweater. He’s also been given a shirt that says “Born To Be Awesome.”

papalegbacat

Robert, who lives in El Paso, Texas, says Papa is usually averse to any kind of collar or accessories, but she believes the sweaters “humble” him because he’s cuddlier when he wears them.

“He seems more docile [when wearing the sweaters]” she told The Dodo. “Or maybe embarrassed.”

She told a local news outlet she hasn’t yet pinned down his second family, but she wants to thank whoever’s been treating the little guy well.

“I have already met with five families,” she said. “I haven’t met his other family yet, but I hope we can continue to ‘share’ custody.”

She said she’s narrowed it down to a few houses and plans to come knocking with baked goods to thank the neighbors for their kindness.

“I hope people can keep their pets at home, inside,” Robert told The Dodo. “They are our family and they are safest when with their owners, but if you have a wily cat like ours, I hope you are blessed with generous and lovely neighbors like mine.”