Every year, once spring arrives, Stanley starts to get the “fresh air” itch. He starts sitting non-stop by the windows in the house, looking outside, staring wistfully at the back yard, imagining a better life. Yearning for freedom; sweet, sweet freedom.
Freedom watch
Stan enjoying his territory
And one day it happens, the door opens and we say “Stan, go outside and enjoy.” Ok, what usually happens is Stan pushes his way outside when we are least expecting. Either way, he gets in the backyard and IT. IS. GLORIOUS!!! (
What I imagine this moment feels like to Stan.)
This year he did a full-on freak out! He sniffed everything, ate bunches of grass (that he later threw up, of course), and rolled in absolute glee under my honeysuckle tree.
We couldn’t stop laughing at him. He was so happy.
Cut to yesterday, Chuck and I were in the backyard all day doing yard work. Stanley joined us outside for awhile, then he got bored with attacking bugs (trying to attack bugs is more like it) and went in.
While Stan was inside, a local black and white cat hopped my fence and came in the yard. He wanted to go near my tree (that intoxicating honeysuckle tree!). So I gave him a pat and said “hello,” he seemed like a nice cat.
Chuck turned to me and said “Stan’s at the door and he isn’t happy.” I excitedly said “Well, don’t let him out! He’s super territorial.” Chuck then said “He wants to stand his ground, this is his home.” I was like “oh sh*t, here we go.”
Chuck opened the door and all hell broke loose. Stan stalked down “Invader Cat” and chased him behind the air conditioner where they both screamed at each other (cats have such creepy screams when they are about to fight).
How Stan feels now
Stan launched himself at Invader Cat and they both slapped each other for a few seconds. Then Invader Cat ran away and leapt on top of the fence and stood up there looking freaked out. Stan proceeded to sit directly in the middle of the yard huffing and puffing at the cat (he’s at least 8 years and 10 pounds away from being able to scale that fence). Finally, Invader Cat leapt down on the other side of the fence and ran away. Stan watched him leave through one of the gaps in the fence boards. That was a tense two minutes.
I turned to Chuck and said “What were you thinking?!” He says to me “’Tis nature, Stan needs to tell others this is his land.” Chuck watches too many nature shows.
Oh, and an hour later, where do I find Chuck and Stan? Watching nature shows together on TV! Geesh.
