An Unexpected Cat Adventure: Patches and Angelina’s Mysterious Escape

The following is a guest story submitted by one of our readers Linda – if you’d like to submit a story email us via info@katzenworld.co.uk

Every night around 9:30, he stands before me with that look. We’ve been in a relationship for a year now and our routines have become set in stone. I’m not always ready for bed that early in the evening, but I acquiesce and give him what he wants by retiring early.

When I first met him, they called him “Hollywood.” I immediately knew why. He wore a classy tuxedo and there was no mistaking that beauty mark near his mouth. His name was a takeoff from Marilyn Monroe or Cindy Crawford, not to mention that his eyes looked like they were lined with black eyeliner. It was “glam” for sure.

I had reservations about getting involved with him. I had just lost my companion of 17 years due to renal failure, and I wasn’t sure I was ready for another commitment just yet. I knew it would require preparing meals on a regular basis, and heaven knows what would happen ‘ should there be a health issue with either one of us given our ages. That would be something else to consider before I jumped into a living arrangement.

So I got up off the comfy sofa and turned on the night light. He went right to the door.

“Ok. You wanna go out?”

He ran right out with his tail straight up into the cool night air. This night I would leave him outside for awhile because I knew as soon as he came back in, he would run straight to his food dish and then give me that look again. That wanting look. It was his time to retire so he could lay with his head on my shoulder as I read in bed.

“Hollywood,” aka “Patches,” (the grandchildren didn’t quite get the glamorous moniker, and since he had one big white patch on his back, they named him Patches) was a talker. He never re-entered the house without first saying “hello.” This night he ran in with no “helio” and no running to his food dish. Instead, he stopped in the middle of the room. And there she was. “Angelina Ballerina!” She lay on her back with her furry, white underbelly and her long, white delicate tail. Then I realized what I must do. I must acknowledge Patches’ good work.

“Well, hello. Patches. What have you got there? Is that a present for me?”

Patches raised his head to accept my praise, quickly scampered over and flipped Angelina around. Two good belly flops was all I could take.

I quickly moved to the kitchen once again to gather paper towels, rescued her with one fell swoop and released her to the outdoors. Patches ran right out the door to play with his new found playmate. I stood watch and then distracted Patches while Angelina escaped.

Patches turned and ran into the house. I continued to stand outside to watch Angelina survive in the great outdoors. The afternoon sun was at my feet and I looked about the neighborhood as dusk approached.

A few minutes later I returned indoors to talk to Patches but he was no where to be found. I called his name, checked the bedroom closet and looked behind the shower curtain, two of his favorite resting spots. Then I heard him meow. I wasn’t sure where his voice was coming from until I looked up. There he was on top of the entertainment center drinking out of the fish bowl! “Vichyssoise,” aka as “Jaws”, (because you can actually hear him chew his supreme dried shrimp delicacy) is a beautiful, iridescent blue tetra fish. Jaws circled his bowl, fluttering his gills, excited to see his friend Patches with his pink scratchy tongue, slurping water from his liquid home.

“Well, you did a good job, didn’t you? You’re such a good kitty!”

I turned to the kitchen to grab some paper towels, and before I knew it, Angelina jumped up and ran behind the entertainment center.

“Patches? How could you let her get away?” I admonished. Patches seemed as surprised as I was but ran to the entertainment center to see what he could see behind it.

“Well, I don’t see her. Do you?”

I got the flashlight but saw nothing between the wall and the entertainment center except extensions cords.

“Well, I don’t see her. Where do you think she could be?”

I got the broomstick just to rattle around and poke at the cords to see if I could make Angelina come out. No Angelina.

Now for the hard part. Easing the heavy wooden oak stand with vases, plants, framed photos and finery away from the wall would take some effort. After removing most of the “breakables,” I tried to wedge myself against the desk and lean into the furniture using some leverage, but I carried no weight. I could budge it but the strain of one attempt after another left me exhausted. Now, down on my hands and knees, using the flashlight for a keener view, I was stumped until I put my hand on the back side of the entertainment center. I realized there was a recess at the bottom where the back side panel ran short leaving a space for Angelina to hide.

“Patches. Where is she? Where did she go?” I questioned him tauntingly.

Again, out came the broomstick to shake things up a bit more, but to no avail. Patches would race the long stretch from one end of the entertainment center to the other. Back and forth, back and forth he went. This went on for some time until Patches decided to sit still and focus intently on his hidden hostage.

“I know you get more playful at night. Patches but I don’t think your new playmate wants to come out. I think it is time to give up and come to bed.”

I quickly moved to the kitchen once again to gather paper towels, rescued her with one fell swoop and released her to the outdoors. Patches ran right out the door to play with his new found playmate. I stood watch and then distracted Patches while Angelina escaped.

Patches turned and ran into the house. I continued to stand outside to watch Angelina survive in the great outdoors. The afternoon sun was at my feet and I looked about the neighborhood as dusk approached.

A few minutes later I returned indoors to talk to Patches but he was no where to be found. I called his name, checked the bedroom closet and looked behind the shower curtain, two of his favorite resting spots. Then I heard him meow. I wasn’t sure where his voice was coming from until I looked up. There he was on top of the entertainment center drinking out of the fish bowl! “Vichyssoise,” aka as “Jaws”, (because you can actually hear him chew his supreme dried shrimp delicacy) is a beautiful, iridescent blue tetra fish. Jaws circled his bowl, fluttering his gills, excited to see his friend Patches with his pink scratchy tongue, slurping water from his liquid home.