An Accidental Catnapping
By: Julie Mogavero Brown
Tags: Cats, Animals, Moms, Kids, Humor

I am a cat-napper. An accidental cap-napper…really, it was a mistake! Although my friends will never let me live this down, let me explain how this happened.

Earlier this year a family in the neighborhood moved and couldn’t take their tabby cat Jessie, so they abandoned her. The new homeowner was allergic and another neighbor was going cat-free as well. Several people were feeding the sweetie, but the baby needed a home. So I said I’d take it…you know for LuCat.

Let me first tell first about LuCat…my 11 year son Lucas who suffers from OCD — Obsessive Cat Disorder — it’s a thing, trust me!

You too could have this peculiarity…..

Do you meow instead of saying hello?

Do you wear a cat-themed shirt everyday?

Do you have cat paw socks, so you look like a cat?

Is your favorite game Exploding Kittens, Cat Stax, Cat-opoly, Cat Crimes, or Meow Libs?

Do you have cat sheets, comforter, pillows, and cat paraphernalia covering your walls?

Does your bookshelf consist of the following titles: CatStronauts, Bad Kitty, Kat vs Dog, Grumpy Cat, How to Speak Cat, Cat Diaries, Warriors, Crenshaw, Splat the Cat, or the entire collection of Pete the Cat?

Does your cat have an Instagram page?

Do you know the difference between these cat breeds: Abyssinian, Chartreux, Cornish Rex, and Ocicat?

Can you identify the following cats: Venus, Colonel Meow, Waffles, Sir Stuffington, Edward Scissorpaws, Deputy Snuggle-up-a-gus, or Cheeto?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the above, you too could have Obsessive Cat Disorder. Seek medical treatment immediately. Do not get another cat…I repeat…do NOT get another cat!!

Ok, so back to my story. Yes, LuCat needed another cat. So I replied back on the neighborhood Facebook page to say I’d take her. I was told I could most likely find her on a front porch eating. So I went over, and just like they said, there was a tabby cat eating. So I picked her up and brought her home.

We were all in love with the snugly, happy cat. She made herself right at home jumping on the fridge and making herself comfy in our bed. We took some pictures, posted them back on the neighborhood page saying she was safe and happy.

And then at 10 pm the doorbell rang.

The man standing there said “I think you have my cat Taffy.”

Do you know all tabby cats basically look the same???

She did look a little big for a homeless cat, and was super fluffy and clean, which should have tipped me off. But she was where they said she’d be, and looked like the pic posted — how was I supposed to know another tabby lived in the house next door??

Fun fact: you can tell it’s a tabby by the ‘M’ marking on its forehead. It is said that a tabby cat showed up to comfort baby Jesus, and in gratitude Mary stroked the cat’s head and left and ‘M’. See this blog is also educational!

Anyway, Taffy’s family was super nice about the whole incident, we even cat sit when they go on vacation — at their house.

The next day I went over and got the correct cat, Jessie, and we love her too. Well all of us except our other cat, Cat (her name is Catalina, but she just looks like a Cat). Or as my dad calls her ‘Regular Cat’. Cat does not like Jessie. At all. Although, they have stopped growling at each other and are down to occasional hissing and sneak attack games of tag. Cat also has decided she will live on the couch and not step another paw upstairs, apparently, she is not the alfa cat.

LuCat also now called Jessie, Jorj (George.) Jorj is a cute name for a girl cat, except her name is Jessie. I’m surprised that the cat hasn’t run away yet.

We also have 2 stray cats we feed, Mister and Milkshake, and Scary Larry the possum (not to be confused with the Virginia opossum, according to my friend Google). Scary Larry is actually super sweet, but a loud chewer. If he sees us he slowly backs away, he also eats snakes….when he’s not full on cat food, so we let him stay.

Please share your OCD stories with me…unless cat got your tongue? Or come over and enjoy a glass of Fat Cat Cabernet or Nein Lives Riesling!

Not a cat lover?? The HORROR!! Maybe these videos will change your mind!