I always knew cats were graceful, but last night I got see that they're also gifted (kind-of) dancers.

All three of the furgirls love to go outside (we've got a small fenced back yard, and we supervise them when they're outside). First thing I do when I get home from work is open the back door for them.

Yesterday, southern California got some much-needed rain. It was coming down pretty good when I got home. All three girls rushed out onto the back porch, then came to an abrupt halt. None of them were overly eager to get wet. A few minutes later the rain eased up a bit, and the kitties went out cautiously to hunt rain bugs.

Cleopatra lasted only five minutes. DD and Amelia stayed out for an hour and a half, though they did spend most of their time under chairs or on the porch.

When I finally brought them in I got to witness Amelia's dancing skills. I guess she doesn't like having wet paws; she would walk a couple of steps, then stop and shake her left hind leg vigorously, walk a couple more steps then stop and shake her right hind leg. Step, left shake, step, right shake. I let her do her wet-paw dance for a couple of minutes, then had mercy and took a towel to her.

She finished off the evening curled up in front of the heater making fragrant kitty-steam.

Copyright © Dan Mahoney
December 18, 2002