With pets, one masters' 'Smart' is another masters' stupidity. That cat is bound to have been someones' pet at some point, it may have left because it just didn't like it where it came from. Or it may have been thrown out or left behind in a move because they just didn't like it. But it showed up at your house and you liked the way it behaved.
Consider "DC," short for Damn Cat. It was the inspiration for the Disney movie 'That Darn Cat.' Hollywood has always been post truth in their true stories. But it was smart enough to be the subject of the investigation, eh? My relatives had a new stray around the house that just moved in and stayed, even if you put it out it would find a way back. They called him 'Mr. Bigs.' The thing is, when I came to visit he was just fine with me. I guess I responded to him however they did where he came from. The family was amazed.
I still miss my Shadow. A black cat that was a foundling getting nursed by hand when a local stray mother died. The rest of the litter were these unusual fluffy siamese colors and people wanted them, he wound up staying with me. I'd walk to the store two miles away, and this not full grown cat sees me and walks home with me, or I walk to the post office and he just comes. He kept up just fine, too. Hence the name.
And then there was the neighborhood bully, Smokey. The people moved and left that monster behind. He was huge and haughty and just plain mean. Shadow wasn't even half his size when he acted out the Jim Croce song 'You Don't Mess around with Jim.' I was looking out my picture window when it started, running to the rescue, but no need. Smokey didn't even make it out of the yard when Shadow tackled him again. Yeah, those bullies don't know how to handle it when someone fights back.
But he seemed to find somewhere else he liked better. Probably the home of a girl cat, still wasn't time to fix him. (Not sure I would have anyway.) I saw less and less of him. . . .
Matt Gruber said:
Yes I'm sure not many elephants can paint a self portrait
Oh, and you DO? Elephants do handle tools, you know.
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