There is a chicken missing

 

The cat sat on the cottage window ledge

Watching the fox stalk across fruit and veg

The fox had already seen her sat there

Untrusting, unafraid he didn't care

Obvious why the the fox had called this day

Was that chicken run was filled yesterday

New pullets were bought for fresh eggs to lay

Stealthy fox thinking this could make his day

The cat's old mistress was quite unaware

Was either that or she just didn't care

Cat wondered if she could foil that wily fox

Or why not put him in a cardboard box

The cat miaowed as mistress made cup of tea

Who came in to hear some hypocracy

The usual lies from her brat of a cat

Who'd hoax and lie as most cats are like that

Mistress merely thought she'd like some lunch

Rather than to give awful fox a punch

By time she looked at chooks in the hens run

She'd sadly missed fox run away with one

My cat Monk

I watched my dog leaping through the paddock
The tall grass no impediment to him
While sat and meditated with Monk my cat
Who adopted us when sat on Welcome mat

Should have called him Tiger or Bravado
As he didn't know what cowardice meant
But he learned a lesson one winter's night
When sat in front of dog when fire's alight

Only to singe his fur which caused quite a pong
But Monk is now protected by the dog
Having learned lesson to make him his friend
Quite happy with that, so this is the end

Image found at https://www.catnaplazydog.com/

Our scruffy cat

A scruffy cat adopted us
One cold December day
My wife agreed to keep him
If some rent he did pay

So I stroked his furry back
And whispered in his ear
He agreed to catch some mice
He'd be busy have no fear

So that day he got to work
Tiptoeing on his paws
Busy in the garden
First mouse caught...great applause!

He holds us to the bargain
Sleeps at foot of our bed
Or by the fire or fridge
Where he wants...enough said?

He mounts all the furniture
Runs as if in a race
No longer thin he sits
On our laps with some grace

Image found at https://pixabay.com/en/cat-christmas-tree-pussycat-1207460/

Fictitious life of cats

Like Cheshire cat grinning
Licking the Yakult pot
Now laughing to himself
Left home alone smirking

The house now his to roam
First he clawed the curtains
Sat deep in the pillows 
Of the master bedroom

Then jumped quickly down
To sit by the window
Watching the little birds
Scratch in the earth outside 

Then went to the cat flap
To crawl slowly outdoors
Looked this way and that
To choose which friends to find

He jumped up the high fence
Hoping to see them there
But only dog on lead
So spat and snarled at him

Coughed up clot of fur ball
So ran back to the house
Just as Mistress returned
"Good boy, you've been sleeping"

Image found at www.thecreativecat.net

Bored dog

I miss having an animal in the house whether it be cat or dog or even a budgerigar singing away unaware that he is in prison.

Dogs and cats however don't feel this way for one feels it is one of the family and the other thinks it is head of the family.

Most dogs in our home thought they they were just another kid with special privileges such as missing out on school and being able to piddle in the garden rather than in the toilet.

Cats were rarely bored and if there was nothing to do they would sleep on your lap when you wanted to be busy or dig their claws in you just for fun.

When bored, dogs found their own pastimes by chewing socks and toys or going to sleep in the middle of the afternoon on your bed for you to find it unmade when it was time for your sleep.

He would then wear a cheesy grin as if to say "Well I am one of the family, what are you moaning about? and you would shake your head and forgive him anyway.

Image found at www.unleashedlife.com

I set the rules

Mumble of conversation
Listening at the door
Just what are they talking about?
I want to know the score

The cat did have it coming
Spitting at me like that
I barked and sent him running
It was our very first spat

He should know I set the rules
Fireside is mine alone
My growling set him running
Cat's now debarked from home

Master has gone to fetch him
He's on the garden shed
My chin's laid on Mum's warm lap
She gently strokes my head

The cat now makes his return
And glares at me with hate
Master says "Come you two
Behave and be good mates"

Image found at www.network.bestfriends.org/

The cat at the window

The cat sat at the window sill looking out at the watching the birds at feeder eyes darting from one to the other.

“Do you want to go out?” she asked the cat who glared back in disgust that such a stupid question should be asked, then stared out the window again.

She went to the kitchen to give her some food and the cat turned her head and glaring at he watched her go.

“Kitty, kitty, come on its ready now” and the cat ran out to her but instead of eating her food stood yowling by the back door.

“Oh you want to go out first do you Kitty? she said opening the door as the cat dashed off in the garden scattering the birds at the feeder who then looked down squawking a warning from the trees.

She then began to tidy the house and found that her sewing basket had been tipped over and all the bits and bobs had been scattered over the floor, “Now who could have done that” she asked.

Image found at www.photos-public-domain.com

Chalk and cheese

They knew their place with us
The dog faithful servant
The cat a picky distant cousin
For whom nothing was quite good enough

So they ignored each other
The dog had pleading eager eyes
Cat scowled with disdain and disgust
For we were only her underlings

They were like chalk and cheese
Cat just stared, dog just wagged
Dog always eager for a walk
Cat thankful to be left all alone

They were both keen hunters
Dog found and killed slippers
Cat put mouse carcasses on mat
But winter put and end to all that

Both their eyes would light up 
As lounge room fire was lit
First dog then cat would get near
Supplanting the other there in front

Until the kids would call
"The cat's fur is singeing
There's an awful stink in here, Mum"
As the dog gave his usual happy grin

Image found at www.pinterest.com

This is a true story and with 6 verses I found would fit very nicely into Six Sentence Stories this week too with the prompt 'Fire'.

Something was wrong

Yes, something was wrong
The dog whined the cat snarled
My hair stood on end

So I looked outdoors
It wasn't evangelists
But was the devil

That cunning demon
Fit as an agile gymnast
Leapt onto the roof

So I lit a fire
Hoping that bewildered him
And prayed for some help

An angel bless him
Came clothed in a fleecy jacket
Of worsted fabric

Now touching my arm
Pointed to the waxing moon
Waiting for his chance

Then beyond the house
We heard a mournful howling
The angel set off

Now gone from our sight
We heard them wrestling above
'Til it was over

The dog barked for joy
And the cat purred with delight
What an adventure!

Image found at www.pinterest.com

Waiting for his chance

Seven small sparrows
peck, peck, still pecking
sat on the dishes rim
and the icy surface
where once water was
filled to the very brim

Black cat watches them
looks with greedy eyes
silent in his stance
at this morning feast
moves not one muscle
now waiting for his chance

Dog meanwhile is sitting
at the windowsill
looks right then to left
barks as pussy moves
birds flutter away
freezing cat is bereft

Master laughs out loud
pussy now walks aloof
to level up the score
scrapes a hole to use
scrambles off up fence
nameless cat seen no more                                                                                                         

Image 1 found at www.frayedattheedge.typepad.co.uk
Image 2 found at www.fineartamerica.com

The bread bin

Many, many years ago two young boys had been left alone during the school holidays with both parents at work so they spent the day playing outside in the yard until the rain came down so they rushed back inside and so did the cat who didn't like the rain at all.

They played for an hour or so with their toys before hunger took hold of them and they searched the house for something to eat but they could find nothing.

Brian finally remembered the bread bin and lifting the lid they found only two crusts left so they both grabbed one while the cat looked on.

"We can't leave it empty" Robin said, so Brian grabbed the cat and put him inside then put the lid back on while they went back to playing with their own toys waiting for their mother to come home.

She was not pleased to find the house in disarray, the cat howling in the bread bin, her shopping still to put away and a meal to prepare before their father came home, so the boys were sent to their bedrooms hungry...except for one who still had his crust of bread stuffed up his jumper.

That boy was me in war torn England in 1943.