Originally, Dalmata was my neighbor's outside cat. Big, sturdy and more dog-like than any other cat around. One day, years ago, he came to our house, liked what he saw, and decided to make it his inside refuge. There was no way our neighbors could get him back. Anyway, they did not pamper him inside enough to make him want to live there most of his time.

Dalmata has his own schedule. He may or may not spend the night in the house. If he does, after breakfast he leaves, then around noon he enters and sleep long siestas in the sofa. At five he leaves, and then, whether he is hungry or not he comes back to spend the night.

Now his routine changes when he senses that it is going to rain — like yesterday. He left after breakfast and about ten minutes later he was meowing and scratching the door to come in, which he did. I told my brother, "Dalmata is in. It is going to rain..." Sure thing, a little later it was pouring. The funny thing is that he knows when it is going to rain, whether there are clouds or the sky is cloudless.

If Dalmata senses it is going to right during the night, he never spends the night out.

Copyright © Ralph Rewes
May 23, 2008