Serafina's Corner of the World

So, this morning when I went to do laundry, there was a dead mouse in the "planter" (a square of dirt that never gets any sun). It was just laying next to the apartment next to me. My two cats and the black cat from across the hall were all around it, eying each other.

When I came back later, it looked as if the mouse had moved. Not a lot, just a little. But it was dead, right? Three cats + one mouse = dead mouse.

Then I leave to go to rehearsal. Cobbler is sitting in the dirt, looking at a mound of dirt. I assume the next door neighbor kicked dirt over the mouse. When I came home, Cobbler runs outside and... now there's a hole next to the wall. He starts poking his paw in it, playing. So, now I figure there is a mouse family living there, and I might have to say something but, dude, Cats.

An hour or so later, Cobbler comes in to eat. I'm on the phone with my mom and my door is open so the cats can go in and out.

And then the mouse comes walking in like he owns the place, obviously looking for his BFF Cobbler.

WTF?

Apparently, I'm one of those women who has a high-pitched shouty voice when she sees rodents. To be fair, I was telling it to get out and slamming the door on it.

*sigh*

Why is my cat friends with a mouse?

Norman snuck into the house and got into the bedroom or closet or something. When Brycee found him, she freaked the fuck out and jumped him. They're about the same size, but she totally pinned him to the floor. He managed to escape. Then, he later jumped Cobbler while they were both outside and in front of upstairs-neighbor's door. So, Cobbler ran off and disappeared, Norman disappeared, and Brycee went out to look for them. And, I guess, defend her younger brother's honor.

You know, Brycee never liked Cobbler and she swatted at him a few times, but she never took advantage that she was so much bigger than him (until he got more aggressive and she just needed him off. Even then, it was more rolling).

I should probably try and find someone to take Norman. I suspect his last owner was... not so nice. Every time I crouch down to pet him or reach for him, he flinches and runs a few steps away.

Cobbler just came home reeking of cigarette smoke.

Cobbler came into the apartment today carrying what I thought was a bunch of leaves and a frog. I do NOT like frogs, so this made me very not happy. In fact, I was on the phone to inform my partents that I would be by in six hours, having to move out of my now frog-infested apartment when I saw it was not, in fact, a frog, but a bird.

And the bird was still alive.

*sigh*

Cobbler was laying next to the bird, batting at it, when I frantically scooped him up and locked him in the bedroom. I then got a towel, picked up the bird, and took it outside. My plan was to go near other birds and hope it flew to them (many years ago, a bird got trapped in my classroom and played, "I can't fly" until I got it near a tree and it flew away). However, I wasn't finding any birds. I finally got it out to a tree, then got it's claws out of the towel and onto my fingers. It's left leg was all wonky, but it finally tried to take off.

And promptly beak-planted into the grass.

*sigh*

So, I snatched it back up, ran into my house, got a box,threw some towels in it,and gunned it 16 miles to the SPCA. Which has been under construction for the past 4 years, so I wasn't sure where to take the bird. First, I took it into the main building ("Um, hi. I have a bird.") and was directed up the hill to the wildlife center. Which, I didn't make it to,because I wasn't sure how far up the ONE WAY road to go, so I made it to the Wildlife Education building, where a group was looking at dead birds and talking about...something. So I interrupted (I have a bird?). They took the bird and my address (and towels) and said they'd take care of it.

So. That was my adventure with the bird.

I would like to point out, however,that Cobbler did not bring the bird to me as a gift. He brought it in for himself because, apparently, I have a selfish cat.

So, last night when I opened the door to let Cobbler outside, Worried Cat was there. Worried Cat is this black cat with beautiful green eyes that always looks worried because of the way they're shaped. Only... I'm not sure if this is the original Worried Cat anymore, because that cat had a collar with a bell and always ran away from me. This one doesn't have the collar and came running up to me, frantically wanting cuddles and pets. It does have a bald patch on the back of its neck, though, which leads me to wonder if maybe it was abandoned? Which is horrible,and I don't understand how someone could do that.

It gradually dawned on me that Worried Cat (who I wish I could rename Rinzler, but the other name is ingrained) might be hungry. And, oh my God, that poor thing was so pathetically grateful when I put food out. I sat next to it so my kittys didn't chase it away. Brycee came out and glared at it, but didn't get any closer until Worried Cat was done and slinking away.

So. I may have adopted another cat.

My keyboard is really bugging me; it's so hard to type on.

I have got to get out of the house today only so the cats don't drive me completely bonkers.

"I wanna go outside, Momma!"
"OMG, it's cold and rainy outside, I want to come inside!"
"It's BORING inside, I wanna go out back!"
"OMG, it's cold and rainy out back, too!"
"I WANT OUT!"
cue growling and attacking each other.
"Can I go outside?"

I think Brycee is actually pissing me off more because she'll just sit in front of the door, but she wants it open so she can see me. No.

I wanted to see I Love You, Philip Morris, but since I'd have to drive 20 miles, I'll see Tangled instead.

Whenever Cobbler comes inside after being out all day, Brycee runs up to sniff and lick his butt. Sometimes she then goes for his cheek or neck, but starts with his backside. The rest of the time, she hisses, swats, and chases him.

Cats are odd.

I WAS OUTSIDE AND I LOST MY COLLAR. MOM KEEPS SAYIN' I'M A NAKED KITTY, BUT I STILL HAS FUR. I DON'T GET IT.

SHE ALSO SAID SHE'S GONNA MAKE ME WEAR BRYCEE'S SPARE COLLAR. I THINK I'M GONNA BIT HER.