I know I’m asking for trouble here, but when John in Missouri passed along this exchange between his father’s neighbor (an “interested animal lover”) and his father (a reluctant one), I just couldn’t resist.
Confidential to John’s Dad: I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
related: The Great Outdoor Cat Debate of 2012
67 responses so far ↓
#1
Ty
For a second there i thought the cats name was 17
Oct 9, 2012 at 8:51 pm rating: 148
#2
quat
… and let the great debate start all over again. 1, 2, 3, GO.
Oct 9, 2012 at 8:53 pm rating: 4
#3
wonderman
That grey cat’s water was delicious.
Oct 9, 2012 at 8:55 pm rating: 27
#4
KC
Cat must only like Pellegrino-SNOB!
Oct 9, 2012 at 9:06 pm rating: 8
#5
freejinger
The reply note is best read Henny Youngman style. “Take my cat, please”
Oct 9, 2012 at 9:08 pm rating: 23
#6
Molly Musaka
The response was hilarious. If the guy was concerned about the cat, set out some food and water on your own porch, or on this guy’s. Drop a note saying “the little tupperware container is mine, I left it there with water for the cat. If it bothers you, just turn it upside down and I’ll take it away.” Either of those is what I’d do. I have a couple strays around the neighborhood that stop by my house and drink the water I leave out. Wish I could afford to get them all spayed. :/
Oct 9, 2012 at 9:25 pm rating: 32
#7
kermit
Maybe the cat’s not drinking the water because it’s used to drinking booze.
Oct 9, 2012 at 9:29 pm rating: 41
#8
Gizmo
Maybe the cat would prefer a prune in gin like the little old lady used to share.
Oct 9, 2012 at 10:01 pm rating: 39
#9
phoenix
So, a neighbor is trying to guilt trip a neighbor that he isn’t taking good enough care of the stray cats in the neighborhood?
I’d pay a bum to sit in front of the moron’s house and write him scathing notes about not sponge bathing the bum . “He just needs to come inside!”
Oct 10, 2012 at 3:35 am rating: 94
#10
Tess
Unrelated, but it irritates me when people write their Ts like 7s.
Oct 10, 2012 at 7:28 am rating: 17
#11
Brian
Where are the diatribes about keeping cats indoors / not keeping cats indoors?! Where’s the vitriol? The cocksure attitudes? The passive aggressive sniping?
It’s disappointing. Someone needs to submit something on tipping.
Oct 10, 2012 at 7:37 am rating: 25
#12
H for Toy
I would also like to subscribe!
Oct 10, 2012 at 7:52 am rating: 6
#13
MBee
I want to point out that Dad flipped the letter over and wrote on the back.
Somehow, knowing that makes me love his response that much more…
Oct 10, 2012 at 8:13 am rating: 50
#14
Lil'
The interested animal lover could take the hike over to leave a note but not a bowl of water? Hmm.
Oct 10, 2012 at 9:18 am rating: 33
#15
chrisinphx
And just how can the note writer tell the difference between a “miserable cat” sunning on the porch and a “totally content cat” sunning on the porch? Cats only have one look…disgusted at the humans.
Oct 10, 2012 at 11:26 am rating: 70
#16
Robin
Maybe the cat is not drinking water because cats don’t tend to drink sitting water, they get most of their hydration from food, ie the small furry things they kill. If the cat wanted to be cool it would more to shade, it likes basking in the sun, just leave the cat be, it’s fine.
Oct 10, 2012 at 11:47 am rating: 8
#17
N0b0dy
Life surely is a real CATastrophe for this poor little beast
Oct 10, 2012 at 12:36 pm rating: 4
#18
Gwan
I just love that he has a witness on standby
Oct 10, 2012 at 1:07 pm rating: 29
#19
warns
I’m team original letter recipient/2nd letter writer. It’s weird for a neighbor to criticize somebody’s pet care when they’re clearly aware the cat doesn’t belong to them. Also yes, if she cared so much, she’s welcome to take the cat in herself.
Oct 10, 2012 at 1:49 pm rating: 18
#20
Charlie
I had an aunt that felt sorry for a stray cat that was hanging around her house, so she started feeding it. Before you knew it, she was feeding a dozen or so that took up residence under her front porch.
Oct 10, 2012 at 3:53 pm rating: 4
#21
Brook
The cat wrote the first note. He’s making a play to get access to your couch.
To pee on it, no doubt.
Oct 10, 2012 at 9:25 pm rating: 33
#22
Bluecanary
Start putting food and water out for one, soon you’re putting food and water out for ten, and then they start to breed, and before you know it, your neighbors are leaving passive aggressive notes on your porch about cat shit on their lawn and murdered wildlife on the welcome mat. Leaving anything out for feral cats is a BAD idea…
Oct 11, 2012 at 9:41 am rating: 11
#23
Bethany B.
Thanks for sticking that song in my head. Let me repay the favor:
Karma-karma-karma-karma-karma chameleon…
Oct 11, 2012 at 2:35 pm rating: 0
#24
johnbean36
Hi I am the son of the man in this note. I just wanted to clarify. The old woman the neighbor was talking about was my grandma. When my grandmother died my dad reluctantly took over taking care of the cat but would not let the cat in the house. The witness he discussed is my aunt. Also yes he wrote the response on the back of the note from the neighbor with the hopes that she would read it but more than likely she didn’t. Honestly my dad died a year ago and the cat is still alive so the cat has outlived two owners.
Nov 2, 2012 at 4:46 pm rating: 8
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