When we first got Demon and Lucy we lived in Feltwell, Norfolk County, England. It was a lovely, quiet little village and we often let both cats roam the garden. Rob's Dad had come for a visit in late April, which is the absolute best time in the English countryside; all soft rains and beautiful gardens. One sunny Saturday afternoon, we decided to have a barbecue with friends. We were all lounging around the sitting room, the doors and windows all wide open to let the fresh air in and the cats out. Everyone else was laughing and talking, but I was too busy watching Lucy and Demon chasing butterflies in my flower beds. Although Lucy was much smaller then, she was still a bit on the plump side and it was the most hilarious thing to watch her doing back flips trying to get to the butterflies as they fluttered around the tulips.

My Father-in-Law, who was sitting on the floor near the patio door, calls to me, "Hey, there's something wrong with your cat." Of course, that got my immediate attention. Demon is trotting towards the house and, sure enough, he doesn't look quite right. He's shaking his head and his face looks distorted. I rush across the room and catch Demon just as he tries to slip back out the door. As I scoop him up, I notice he's making an odd sound. Not a purr, but definitely not a growl either. What is wrong with my baby boy?!?!? He seems to be, well......buzzing! That's when I noticed the little black legs sticking out of his mouth. His face had looked distorted because he had managed to catch some sort of bug and was holding it in his mouth! The buzzing got louder so I gave Demon a shake to try to get him to spit it out, but he wasn't about to give up his prize catch. Not knowing what else to do, I gave him a light smack on his chin. POP!!!! The biggest, fattest bumble bee I have ever seen popped out of his mouth, hit the glass door, then calmly buzzed away as if it hadn't just spent who knows how long riding around in my kitty's mouth. I swear it was only a light smack that I had given my Demon-Boy, but his face started to swell almost immediately. I know it was from the inevitable bee stings inside his mouth, but everyone teased me about abusing my poor kitty and giving him a fat lip!

PS: No animals (or insects!) were harmed during these events. Demon saw a vet that afternoon and, after an injection and some salve, was back out chasing bumble bees in time for supper.

Copyright © Kathy Hyle
Spring, 1996