Saturday, when I was bringing bags of groceries in the house, Djoser slipped outside. He is really good at that, Sneaky Cat! But he has been shut in for quite awhile now that it is winter with snow on the ground.

I set the groceries down on the enclosed porch and went to the door to see if I could get him in. A futile exercise, I know; But I felt I had to try. As I looked out the door to see if I could spot him, I was surprised to see him only a short distance from the door.

He was standing in the classic Pointer pose, like in mid-step. His eyes were riveted on a bunny rabbit a few feet away on top of a snow bank. Oh, boy! Something to chase and stretch his legs. In a small house Djoser doesn't get much exercise. As I opened the door the bunny started to hop away. (We have so many they are half tame; they hop and amble instead of running).

But Djoser was convinced his sport was getting away. He took a few quick steps and prepared to leap to the snowbank. Despite what I just said, the rabbit wasn't that tame! He took off, kicking snow in Djoser's face! Djoser gave a mighty lunge upward........but it didn't work out as he planned.

The sun was shining and had melted the ice Djoser was walking on just enough that his hind feet, even with claws extended, got no purchase. At the same time his front feet were stretched out to land on the snow bank. As he lunged, his rear feet slid backward and he bellyflopped! Good thing he has a substantial udder to cushion and insulate him from the ice!

You know, when you see a slapstick comedy, you laugh and guffaw and slap your sides and gasp for breath with tears running while heehawing! I couldn't help it when I saw the expression on his face: I did all of the above! He immediately became offended at me and started to get up. But in the meantime his warm belly had warmed the ice a bit more.

It was like Bambi when he discovered ice. Djoser's feet went every-which-way! I have to admit I was laughing too hard to help him even if I had thought of it. He gave me a filthy look and finally managed to squirm to the edge of the ice and get up.

He stalked off away from me with his tail jerking back and forth. Boy, was he mad! He finally came in about an hour later when it got colder. But he didn't forgive me until bedtime.

Copyright © Catherine Jo Sadler
December 3, 2001