Tidbit Tuesday: Hi I'm Cindi...and I'm a cat thief

When I lived in China, I've never seen a cat before.  But after moving to the States, I fell in love with these furry little animals that were running around in my friends' homes.  I was a pretty lonely kid, oftentimes played with only one friend, but most times I wandered outside of our apartment just by myself, doing...I don't know what!  But this one day, I was outside our front door and I heard this meowing sound that was coming from an apartment complex next door.  It was a gray/white/brown tabby staring straight at me, talking to me as if we've been friends for ages.

*Disclaimer - Please please please...pretty please don't judge me for what I did next because I was, after all, 8 or 9 years old at the time* :)

I walked up the balconey stairs the kitty was hanging his head off of and started to pet it.  He continued meowing as if he was telling me something and I knew at that moment...he wanted me to rescue him.  I didn't know what it was that surged inside me, I just knew I needed to swoop this kitty and take him home with me.  As I started hearing the theme music for Inspector Gadget in my head, I made a swift move and picked up the cat.  Off it went with me to my home.

When I got home, I prepared a sob story to tell my parents.  "The cat followed me home...he had nothing to eat...all I wanted to do was feed him...and I won't let him in the house...etc."  I was quite proud of my persuasive skills at such a young age, now that I think about it.  But my parents gave in pretty easily and said I can keep...Cookie...yep...I had already named him at this point.

Fast forward almost two years later (and five pounds heavier for Cookie), my friend and I met a very nice young student attending school at the local University.  Him and his girl friend lived in the apartment complex next to ours and they owned lots of animals.  From rabbits, to cats, to snakes!  Being that I loved animals, they would invite us in to play with them.  Now..I know this sounds creepy...but it totally is not...I swear!  One day while we were inside, I told the nice young man that I also had a cat.  And described Cookie to him.  He looked at his girlfriend with a suspicious eye and said, "You know Babe, that sounds like Toby." 

Cindi, "Oh no...my cat's named Cookie.  He's great!"
Nice Young Man, "Well we lost Toby about a year and a half ago, he sounds like he looks like your cat."
Cindi, "No...Cookie's MY cat!"

So he dropped the subject because...well...he's a Nice Young Man and he probably didn't want to take a cat from a little girl...even though Toby was his.

A few months later, my parents decided they would move to a bigger apartment, which allowed NO pets.  I met up with Nice Young Man and his girlfriend to ask them, sadly, if they'd take care of Cookie for me.  Tears were streaming from my face as I asked them to be good parents to my little baby, Cookie.  And his response:

Nice Young Man, "Oh sure!!  We'd love Toby back!"

I think it took me a couple more years to finally realize what I had done.  I stole this nice couple's cat!!!  I was oblivious at the time, but now I feel horrible.  If one day I have the opportunity to meet up with Nice Young Man again, I'd buy him some drinks and apologize!   

Oh and another disclaimer...my cat Ty was from the pound.  :)  I learned my lesson and know now that stealing a cat is not the right way to go about owning a furry four legged friend.

My Ty...at his best!  

Happy Tuesday all!