Cats!!

[Dennis S]

Have you ever wondered where some of those ?gut feelings? come from? My grad-daughter Ellie, along with Mom, Dad, and their two dogs are in Puerto Rico for now. They live in a lovely area, but there is a problem with feral cats. These guys are nobodies pets, and are first class predators.

The house has a cement wall around the pool in back of the house. The cats are incredibly nimble, and several of them are able to go up and down a seven-foot stucco wall. You don?t want them around your pool, and for sure you don?t want them around your baby. And the dogs going crazy when they see these cats. Ellie?s eyes get big when you say the word ?cat?. As best I can tell, she associates cats with evil.

Stephanie was trying to help her get over that, and was pointing out a small, peaceful cat to Ellie. Just then, their dog Sebastian came around the corner and trapped the cat in the garage. A huge, raucous fight ensued; with Sebastian (whom they picked up as a stray in Brazil, and turns out to be a first class cat fighter) flinging cat hair about the garage while Stephanie yelled at him, and did her best to cover Ellie?s eyes, all accompanied by a lot of cat yowling. The cat found a hiding place, and appeared to leave no worse for wear. But Ellie now points out every cat in the same way that you or I might point out a dangerous snake. I wonder how she will look at cats as she grows older?

 

[Karlynn]

I have to say, I got a real charge out of that story! Sebastian is Buckley's hero!

I think lots of guys are going to like the Ellie, since it looks like she's not going to be a cat lover.

 

[Ross]

I went to some friends wedding reception last year and there was a girl there that was deathly afraid of cats. I didn't know it when I opened the door and let Susies cat in. This poor girl screamed at the top of her lungs, jumped up on a chair, as if she saw a mouse or something and started balling and screaming. We got the cat out after chasing it around the house a couple times, but this girl bolted out the front door in tears before anyone could say anything to her. Needless to say, I felt real bad about it. Susie, the bride, said she's been like that her whole life. I guess when she was little, she was torn up by some cats and it left a bad impression on her for sure.

 

[Dennis S]

My Dad is not a cat lover, and he thinks it is great to have his Great-Grand-daughter on his side. Ellie is not really afraid of that cats, but she does want her Mom & her dogs to know where they are.

Most tough cats are more than a match for the average dog. When Joe & Steph. were stationed in Rio, they treated themselves to a few days at a luxury resort whose grounds were basically carved out of the jungle. It was considered a good idea to stay inside after dark. Sebastian had been abandoned by guests-a married couple-who apparently had a big fight and went their separate ways. Sebastien, who weighs less than 30 pounds managed to avoid the scarier jungle creatures at night, and stole or coaxed his meals on the grounds of the resort. The hotel owner told Joe that Sebastien had been there for a few months. Joe was able to capture him, and the rest is history. But, after his days in the jungle, there isn't a cat in Puerto Rico that scares Sebastien. Here is a picture of the best cat fighter I have ever seen. (by the way, to my knowledge, Sebastien has never killed or seriously injured a cat-he just doesn't want them around the house). As you can see, he is a game little dog. He decided he wanted to participate in Ellie's "surfer" training.

 

[hensylee]

Ellie will always be afraid of cats. She has had a trauma that will never leave her. I had a couple of dog bites when I was small and never got past it.

I have always had a cat - all my life. I have one daughter who does not like cats. I don't know why. Nothing ever happened to cause fear, she just doesn't like them. My other two children love them.

 

[Pegasus]

I think a lot may depend on how her parents react as well.
I got bitten by dogs a few times as a child and I loved them all the same. My parents scolded me gently for making the dogs bite me while cleaning up my wounds and reminding me again to be carful around strange dogs. In my country they ran loose and they are still allowed in many restaurants today. They bit me like for stepping accidentally on their tail or reaching for their food - just wanted to be helpful I was around 4-6 yrs. old. My injuries weren't any worse than falling off a tree or bike - I was a tomboy
At 11 yrs. old I was bitten by a German Shepherd dog with no provocation at all (leg injury) but I got passed that too with my parents and grand-mother's help. One bad seed doesn't have to count. They are still my favourite breed and I have one right lying beside me. I do like cats, but I LOVE dogs. Hopefully Ellie will come around later but as long as she loves dogs, she is perfect