Albert

Albert

Gah! Some pet owners really irritate me.

Meet Albert. I met Albert today as I left my house to go grocery shopping. He cried at me, and then plopped his furry little butt down on my front steps.

This did not strike me as "outside cat" behaviour.

It struck me as "lost cat" behaviour.

So, being the softie I am, I told Albert to wait a second, and went in for a bit of string to use as a leash. (String, I thought to myself... what can I use as string...? Halfway through unlacing my shoe, I realize I have a house full of yarn.) I select a nice sturdy heatherd purple wool, and cut off about two yards worth.

I tied the yarn to Albert's harness, and proceed to walk him home.

Halfway there, he decides he doesn't want to walk any more. Well, I wasn't giving up when I was halfway there. So I pick the cat up.

Note: I have severe cat allergies, and am wearing my handwash-only Weasley sweater.

I Albert to his house, and there is a sign on the door that says "Please do not let Albert out of the house." (That says "not an outdoor cat" to me... how about you?) There is a dry water dish by the door. No one answers when I knock.

I tie Albert to the railing, and then go to get my groceries, stopping off at the front office first to let them know about Albert and his predicament, and to wash my hands. A sign greets me at the front office, saying they're closed for MLK day. I go grocery shopping.

When I get to the grocery store, I discover they now have sanitizing wipes to clean off cart handles. I use them on my cat hands.

Five minutes later the welts start.

I get the store manager to tell me where the washrooms are, and then wash my hands and face. The welts don't go away, but they stop getting worse.

After grocery shopping, I call Albert's house to see if someone is home. No answer.

I walk over to Albert's house to put some water in his dish.

Albert isn't there. The ragged break in the yarn indicates he pulled himself loose.

I put water in the dish anyway, and walk home.

When I was nearly home, Albert finds me again, and starts crying. He then follows me home. *sigh*

This time I fetched some *twine*, and tied him to my back steps. I set out some water for him, then called his house again.

This time I listened to the message, planning on leaving my own. It gives me two cell numbers to try. I call the first, and get Albert's "mom," Janet.

Janet comes to pick up Albert. While she's here, she said that he is, in fact, an outdoor cat (how was I supposed to know), and that she would have preferred that I left him loose than tying him to her steps. What if she hadn't come home?

Hell, I *hadn't* abandoned him... I did go back to check and bring him water as soon as I was finished grocery shopping! Sheesh! *And* you live facing a busy highway. *And* our apartment complex has a rule against letting your pets out alone.

Sheesh. Stoopid pet owner. Grumble.