Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Chipmunk Extravaganza

I remember when my kids were little, silence  wasn't always a good thing.  I had that same "uh oh" feeling when I sang my "Kitty Breakfast Song" this morning and nobody showed up! 

I tiptoed through the house searching for God-knows-what and in the living room found the majority of my cats surrounding the iron firewood holder.  I could see something scurrying underneath and I *knew*. 

It was another mentally challenged chipmunk that managed to get into our secure Cat Den .  

The cats must be carrying these little dudes into the house.  I think once a week we have a new chipmunk fiasco.  Gratefully, I don't think we have had any fatalities - other than me wanting to kill my cats for doing what comes naturally.  This time it was different because I was on my own.  I prepared to do battle.  If this guy got loose in the house, I'd surely never find him - but our herd of cats would. 

It was pre-coffee - 7:30 am and my adrenaline was already coarsing through my veins as my rescue mentality kicked into full gear.  I was shocked at how easily it was to pick up the stunned little rodent.  I reached out and gently picked him up by the tail praying that he wouldn't whirl around and bite me.  Poor little guy was obviously stunned and may have known I was trying to help him.  I put him into a cat carrier and let him go outside.

I noticed right away that this chipmunk seemed familiar.  He only had half a tail!  I've seen this guy before!  In fact - I've caught this guy AT LEAST 5 or 6 times!  I thought:  "It really IS the mentally challenged chipmunk!" 

Then I walked back into the living room to chastise my disappointed cats and found in the floor.....

Wait for it...

Wait for it...

Wait for it...


It's a CHIPMUNK TAIL!!!!!!!


Holy cow.  I felt myself starting to gag.  It wasn't the same chipmunk at all.  Those damn cats bite off the tail and that's no doubt how the chipmunk could get away and what has saved the chipmunk's life!

The phone rang as I carefully pick up the chipmunk tail.  It was David:

"Hey.  I wanted to tell you that I *THINK* there is a Chipmunk in the house."

Duh.

6 comments:

Random Felines said...

ok - I am not sure what made me laugh harder...the tail (along with an "ewww") or David's comment about "I think there is a chipmunk in the house". Aren't they helpful?? :) So glad we don't have that problem here (please don't let us start having that problem either).

Crystal said...

Beth OMG tooooo funny:) I needed this laugh today...THANK YOU so much for sharing!!

Bella said...

Oh wow...

must have been a *lovely* start to your day. makes for a brilliant story thought!

Caroline said...

OMG! I can't believe they amputated the tail, I think you need to catch him and take him to the vet for a few stitches! lol! Maybe your cats need muzzles! At the shelter that I volunteer at, 2 cats were stuck outside in the cat den while it was raining cats and dogs (pardon the pun!) because they couldn't figure out how to navigate the den to come in. I had to instruct them through the pathway, then they got to the top of the window and the indoor kitties didn't want to let them in! lol, I had to referee!

We have chipmunks outside but so far none have come in the cat den, although I'm sure they will, maybe I should print and post the tail picture as a warning!

Josie said...

Ha!
I remember saving a chipmunk from an outdoor kitty once. I was so wow-ed as to how I held a chipmunk-my Grandma wasn't as impressed...more worried about it biting me. I let it loose in some flowers growing in the ditch-found some sticks and brought it (probably) some cheese. Thought it would build a house and I could come visit it. :) I was a silly kid!

Jenn said...

Oh, ew. We're going to be getting a cat den installed, and that's one drawback I never thought of!