So, after only one, not three, runs around the table, she flops for the harness, and we go out. Luxuriating cat on sunny walk, grass eating, more rolling, as I sit on the step.
UPS guy runs up, I go to take† the package, and the leash slips out of my hand and Eleanor has bolted around the house, through the side porch. I shoo apologetic UPS guy off, they are on tight schedules, and this is not his fault, nor can he help, and I'm laughing because I can hear the skittering thumping of the handle.
(Who was it here to suggested this? Great idea, we use it all the time.)
I head off around the other side of the house, to head her off, as I hear the trailing handle round the front bush, then she vanishes up the steps, as D opens the door. I run in after her, and she's gone through, to Moby's astonishment, to disappear under the bed. I grab the handle, pull her out to disentangle her, and hold her snugly as she shivers. I can't help giggling and chortling while I comfort her. She won't even sniff the catnip spring D brings in for her.
Freaked the hell out, but at least she knew where to come back in, even with that thing thumping behind her the whole way.
Poor kitty. She'll be ok.
*It has been a few days.
†10. THEY WISH YOU’D MEET THEM HALFWAY.
Want to make your UPS driver’s job easier? In a Reddit thread, one driver said, “if you see them pulling up and you aren't in the middle of something, meet them half way, or walk up to their truck.” Every extra step adds a little bit of time to their day. “If 10 of my 150 stops do that in a day I would get home 10-15 minutes earlier and actually get to spend time with my family.”
6 comments:
Poor Ellena, glad she ran home. Mol used to get startled if I dropped extending lead, and would freeze in her tracks.
I read somewhere the UPS (I think) worked out they could save hours and millions re-planning the routes eliminating as many left turns as possible.
Gosh, the clatter of the lead behind must be a terrifying sound! Do many cats free roam in the States? Most posts I read about American cats seem to have them in harnesses when outside.
Oh, my goodness! How horrifying to be chased by a noise that keeps up with you whatever you do. Yikes.
Good point about the UPS dude ... I'll usually poke my head out of the window and ask them to toss the package up so that they don't have to climb the stairs.
Lucy
Moby would freeze, Eleanor bolts.
I hear that the no-left thing is real, if not complete. They keep it to a minimum, and Mythbusters did a segment on it suggesting that it really does save gas.
valonia,
I don't know how representative it is, we are the only ones in this neighborhood and we get a lot of astonished people gaping. But most shelters require that adopted cats are kept inside, out on a lead is acceptable. I think people who write about their cats online are perhaps not a good sample.
Rou,
She did her utmost to outrun it, I must say!
I worked at UPS for three years when I was young, though not as a driver.
Good thing the cat knew where to go; though I suppose with that leash trailing her she wasn't likely to get far.
Phil,
I knew a few guys who did, and they seemed happy with being better paid than any other job available to the young. I believe in being especially kind to anyone not well paid, or in public service.
I'm glad she knew as well. The lead was going to help, but not a guarantee. Every other time she's gotten out, she eventually scoots back in the front door if it's open. And she is chipped. I didn't expect she would make it all the way around so fast, though.
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