Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Cat-a-Poult

This afternoon we had a tragedy and a rescue: we discovered two chicks had fallen into the duck's wading pool. One chick had already drowned, but the other was gamely chick-paddling. We scooped him out and my friend Cindy cradled him, warming him in her shirt until he dried off.
When we tried to reunite him with his mom, he was too weak to keep up and still shivering with hypothermia, so I brought him inside, holding him in one hand as I tried to work at my desk. I set him down and he immediately snuggled up to Shamu, our grouchy old cat snoozing on the desk.
Shamu ordinarily is not the friendliest of cats, but she began purring and curled around the chick.  The chick tucked himself under her back leg as if it were his mom's wing and they have been napping together for the past hour. I almost hate to separate them once he gets all warmed up.

8 comments:

The Starved Idiot said...

you just made my crummy day not-crummy. thanks!

Becky said...

That is the sweetest thing. What a wonderful cat!

Cheri said...

I love the unexpected combination! I'd hate to separate them too.

Anonymous said...

this was just what I needed - thanks.

Susan said...

After a couple hours nestled with the cat, the chick got pretty perky and ate some feed. Then I took him (or her) outside and located his family - he skedaddled to his mom and siblings and seems to have survived his scary swimming ordeal with no ill effects.

gz said...

(o)

kjsutcliffe said...

lovely x

katiegirl said...

That's great!