The Trespasser

by Sheenah Large, London, England UK

Our cats like to know everything that goes on in their territory and therefore keep it under close observation. They frequently patrol it and when they feel the need for an aerial view of it, they climb onto their garage roof. When they wish to be warm and comfortable while keeping an eye on things, they can usually view the greater part of their territory from inside their house through their bedroom, kitchen and living room windows. When things are amiss, sometimes our cats can put things right themselves. At other times they either seek my help or expect me to deal with it. Never more apparent are these different approaches than when we have trespassers .

Now, when the trespassers are feline, some of our cats allow them to stay on their property as long as they like while others chase them off immediately. Dee Dee, however, sits and screams for help to get rid of them. When the trespassers are human, our cats say they are my concern.

Our cats' territory is usually unguarded at night because of our insistence that they stay indoors after dark. Therefore, last Sunday evening, no-one saw the trespassers intent on causing mischief.

The following morning, our cats discovered their garage door and car which was parked on their driveway splattered with raw egg. It was an awful mess. Jason came to report the incident. Later, when talking to our window cleaner I happened to mention what had happened overnight. "Oh yes", he said, "that sort of thing frequently happens on the village green at weekends. There's a group of youths who think its funny to throw eggs and cheap Indian take-away's over windows, walls and cars and put naan bread through letterboxes."

In the circumstances, I expected no help from our cats with the cleaning up of the mess left by our trespasser. However, on this occasion, they appeared only to willing to assist. It seems they had overheard my conversation with the window cleaner and, while I stood on the driveway cleaning up the egg, they went off into the surrounding bushes, presumably, in search of any remnants of the curry and naan bread.

Editor's note:

• If you want to comment on this article, why not write direct to Sheenah Large?
• She will be pleased to hear from you!

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