The Wannabe Mommy

by Jeffrey A. Jones
(Martin, South Dakota, USA)

Wannabe Mommy Cat

The wannabe mommy cat story. We have a black, dark orange, and white tabby, I think as being colored like an Aztec rug. Her name is Homey, six years old, because when she was a kitten she was rather homely but grew up to be quite pretty. Easily the most naughty cat and most curious, she thinks of herself as top cat of the five we have but she'll immediately run from any challenge including any insect that strikes back.

Anyway, the weird behavior is late at night when we've all gone to bed, Homey raids the laundry basket full of clean clothes, dutifully picks out a sock, and then carries it in her mouth like a newborn kitten. From the laundry room to the forward bedroom/computer room, Homey delivers the sock kitten to the bedroom screen door that prevents her from entering. There she places the sock kitten on the ground and begins to mew with some very elongated, sour filled expressions of her soul; all the while looking in the bedroom to see if I'm paying attention.

This act can be repeated several times a night or not happen for several days but just when you think she's done doing it, you'll be going to sleep and hear her mournful wailing's again. The next day the socks are completely ignored as Homey's back to seeing which cat she can intimidate.