Dear Reader Column 5-09-17

Dear Reader,

This month's Penguin Classics book is Passing, by Nella Larsen. Click here to start reading, and be sure to enter the drawing for your chance to win a Penguin tote bag, just like mine.

"Why do cats do it?"

I don't know. But when my husband and I are returning from a walk, if he reaches the side porch of our house first and yells back, "Don't come here Suzanne, just wait on the sidewalk..."

I know Cooper, the stray cat we took into our home, has done it again.

Scruffy, skinny, and standing in front of our door looking for a handout, the first time we met Cooper he was afraid, but even more hungry. Too skinny for surgery (Cooper wasn't neutered), I fattened him up with turkey and gravy bits for a week, then lured him into an animal rescue cage, using stinky sardines as bait, and took him to the vet to get "fixed."

I've trapped numerous feral cats and had them fixed through the local rescue program. Most cats are anxious to head back outdoors as soon as the anesthesia wears off, but not Cooper. So I spread newspapers out on the floor and let him recuperate in a big, roomy cage. Three days later Cooper was ready to leave the cage, but not our house. After he stepped out of the cage, he casually walked into my bedroom, jumped up on the bed, curled-up on my quilt and he's been part of our family ever since.

Every person in a family should contribute and Cooper's decided he should be one of the bread-winners. Now if he could bake a loaf of crusty sourdough bread (one of my favorites), I'd be appreciative. But Cooper seems to feel he needs to provide the main course, and he serves-it-up on the doormat on our side porch.

Yuck! "Why does he do that?"

My husband says leaving "dinner" on the side porch is Cooper's way of showing love. It's a "thank you" gift. He's trying to help support the household. But it's really hard to be grateful. So instead of scolding Cooper, I had a little chat with him the other day.

"Listen-up Cooper. There's plenty of food to go around, you don't need to bring a dish to pass when you come to dinner. If you really want to help, how about learning how to wash dishes instead?"

Now there's something I'd be grateful for.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com