We always eat well when we visit our younger son. Either because he always eats well and we get to join him doing so. Or — my suspicion — he lines high end places for us to take him to when we're in town and of course foot the bill. I suspect that's it.
A couple weeks back, we were in Phoenix, with no other purpose than to enjoy the pleasure of his company. He suggested we grab breakfast at Essence Bakery Cafe. Very French — the scrambled eggs with dill in them. The cheese croissants had a blend of gruyere my wife still talks about with wonder. After we settled in our little table and were enjoying our coffee and a selection of pastries, a customer passed with this novel cat carrier arrangement. We struck up a brief conversation. No, the cat didn't mind being in the backpack at all — rather liked being out and about, she claimed (the woman, not the cat). As did the owner, like having her cat at hand, that is.
I can vouch for the portability of cats. It was last August I went through O'Hare to deliver one of my son's cats to Phoenix — he missed him. The boy, that is. Missed the cat. As for the cat's feelings, well, who can tell?
And while the cat, Casper by name, was quiet and compliant, and didn't make a peep on the nearly four-hour flight, I can't see myself getting in the habit of hauling felines around. Not just for the heck of it. Still, no criticism. Not everyone is me. It's a free country. For now.
I can vouch for the portability of cats. It was last August I went through O'Hare to deliver one of my son's cats to Phoenix — he missed him. The boy, that is. Missed the cat. As for the cat's feelings, well, who can tell?
And while the cat, Casper by name, was quiet and compliant, and didn't make a peep on the nearly four-hour flight, I can't see myself getting in the habit of hauling felines around. Not just for the heck of it. Still, no criticism. Not everyone is me. It's a free country. For now.
The bag, by the way, is a Texsens Bubble Backpack Cat Carrier — you can pick it up on Amazon for under $40. one of many backpack cat haulers that are sold, some featuring an enormous clear setting for your cat. Though the big clear packs seemed too exposing. It seemed to threaten the mysterious dignity of a cat. They're not exhibitionists. I mean, I think they're not. It isn't as if I'm familiar with all cats. Just a few.
I found a quite extensive review of this product by Oregon breeder Clair Chesterman on her TechnoMEOW website (and no, I didn't not make that up. She's been reviewing cat gadgets for five years now).
"Warning #1" she wrote. "Your cats probably will hate it." That sounds right.
Warning #3 was regarding bothersome strangers such as myself:
"You will become popular with Texsens cat backpack" she wrote, noting that wearing one invites the attention of "Senior high school kids, senior citizens, off-duty cops, nurses coming home from the night shift, drunk vacationers at the beach, visiting groups on a tour… You name it."
Warning #3 was regarding bothersome strangers such as myself:
"You will become popular with Texsens cat backpack" she wrote, noting that wearing one invites the attention of "Senior high school kids, senior citizens, off-duty cops, nurses coming home from the night shift, drunk vacationers at the beach, visiting groups on a tour… You name it."
I guess I'm in that second category now. Sigh. Well, be who you are. There was only one thing to ask after that: the cat's name. Well, two things to ask. I then checked the spelling of the name, and a good thing I did, because I would have spelled it with an S-K... but no, she spelled it "Scootch." Cute cat.
Interesting concept, but no cat that I have known would ever tolerate that backpack. Maybe it’s just me, but taking them to the vet was an ordeal, and I could only take one cat at a time. Luckily, the vet understood. I guess I’m a cat magnet. I love dogs, but I love cats for their total unpredictability. Plus, they can be bad. I like a little badness in my life.
ReplyDeleteScootch. Cool name. Immediately made me think of our Schmutzik (AKA Schmootz and The Shmoo)...a big tuxedo boy who looked very much like your Gizmo. He really messed up our house. But he was a beloved cat, with a sweet and soulful face.
ReplyDelete“Schmutzik” (“dirty” in both Yiddish and German) sounds way cooler than “Smudge”…which was what he had--a lot like a Hitler moustache. Cats that have them are called Kitlers.
He was our kitty for almost 15 years, but we had to say the same kind of sad good-bye that you did, Mr. S. The Shmoo was good company. Which is the highest tribute one can pay to an animal companion.
Forgot to add this: Been a kitty guy for decades, and I don't think I ever had one that would tolerate a backpack of any kind. They didn't even like the soft-sided carriers that are like gym bags. Nope...not even with windows.
DeleteNever even had a cat that could tolerate riding in a car...not even a five-minute drive to the vet. They would yowl and screech and moan. And meow their little heads off. Probably because they knew where they were going. Cats are pretty smart. But some cats are smarter than others.
I can't imagine Jesse the Cat allowing himself to be put into a cat backpack, much less being toted around and gawked at. Tho he's a handsome black cat, appropriate since I'm a crone. Should anyone be interested, he's named for Jesse Stone, a Robert B. Parker character played by Tom Selleck in several movies. (I'm also a retired Librarian.)
ReplyDeleteThe one thing I think cats might enjoy about this, is they love to watch the goings-on of, well, everything. Mine can peek out our front window for hours at a time. She often sees birds, dogs, or people, but sometimes it seems like she is intently watching nothing. A busy airport may be terrifying for her, but endlessly interesting.
ReplyDeleteMade my day!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a giant version of the carrier American Girl sells for girls to carry their obscenely overpriced dolls around in!
ReplyDeleteWalking to the Publix last week, a man on a bicycle passed me on the path. On his back was a modified backpack holding a mid sized dog, his forelegs draped over his owner's shoulders, while he looked at the world passing him by.
ReplyDeleteMy cats love the cat pack for car rides and walks around the neighborhood. Trips to the vet, not so much.
ReplyDeleteOne note of caution: Some cats become motion sick in the cat pack and barf removal is challenging. Recommend buying a new one should the unfortunate happen.
Our cat hates the cat carrier. She's a gorgeous tuxedo cat we adopted from our local shelter, and her name there was Nibbles. We hated that, so we renamed her Miss Kitty, but we call her Sweetie or other endearing names. BTW, she was brought into the shelter as a feral cat, so they just gave her the next name on their list.
ReplyDeleteMovement of a backpack is very jarring as the person walks. It would not be a smooth ride for an animal within, a sort of rhythmic/jolting motion. Forget it.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to the underwriting of the filial dining guide to good restaurants. Maybe the cat carrier should have a window shade? That might be too much, religous superstition has me worried about the extravagances we buy for our pets. The grocery store has an entire aisle of pet food; treats selling at around $20 per pound.
ReplyDeleteI've seen cats walking on a leash occasionally. I know better than to purchase a cat harness or a cat backpack carrier, however. Our cat enjoys receiving wrapped presents, along with the rest of the family, on Christmas. She likes to lounge behind a wall of wrapped gifts, dappled by the Christmas tree lights. And she knows which gift is hers, too. Her joy is limited to the opening of her gift (with assistance), and the leftover ribbon, however. This year I bought her a motion-activated floppy fish. It was more of a hit with the 1-yr old grandchild. Last year, a new water dish with moving water. The year before, I misjudged the size of "racing mice" in an online ad. They were actually large rats. When it comes to gifts, our cat personifies the sentiment, "it's the thought that counts".
ReplyDeleteSee, e.g., the trailer for the film Argylle.
ReplyDeletecatostrophic if feline escapes in an airport
ReplyDeletei've heard of snakes on a plane, but
cats on a plane is a doggone purfect clowder
That's why my one instruction was to ask security to check me in a private room. That way, if the cat broke free, it wouldn't take up residence in O'Hare.
DeleteGrowing up we always had dogs-and as a parent, more dogs; my adult kid -more dogs. Then a kitten; I fell involve with that little guy. Sure enjoyed all the comments.
ReplyDelete