The Tale of the Shy Orange Cat (A poem in the spirit of Dr. Seuss) Under a Juniper bush, in a wiggly weed mat, Sat a shy, tippy-toe, fluffy orange cat. He was skittish and twitchish and frightened of that— Why, even the wind made him zoom like a bat!Monica saw him and whispered, “Oh dear… Winter is coming, and snow’s almost here!” This kitty looked lonely, long-furred, and thin, With a lion-like face and a trembly chin.So she left him some breakfast. He gulped it—ka-splat! And back he returned for his dinnertime snack. But catching this fellow? Oh, that was a feat— He’d leap with a SPRONG! at the sound of a tweet!Small plates on the porch, and the next ones inside, A string on the door for a “cat-catching ride.” I watched from the stairs, trying hard not to chat… But the phone gave a PING! and — ZOOM! — out went the cat!“Well THAT didn’t work,” Monica sighed with a frown. “Time for a new plan to slow the cat down.” So she borrowed a trap and some chicken delight— Rotisserie magic! A feline’s invite!The cat sniffed once… then twice… then KER-CHICK! He walked in the trap and was caught pretty quick. “So now,” Monica gulped, “what do we do with that?” “Well… open the bathroom and… release the cat!”Into the bathroom he zoomed with a streak. He hid in a corner and wouldn’t dare peek. But day after day, he grew braver at last— He munched and he crunched and he finally passed. (Which meant, of course, progress was happening fast!)“We must check for a chip,” said a whisperer named May. When she entered the room, kitty’s fear went away. He melted like butter—imagine that sight!— And purred like a motorboat humming in flight.Next day to the vet in a borrowed big crate, Where the scanner went beep! and revealed the cat’s fate. A family! Owners! A home that he missed! The vet called them up, “We’ve found him—he exists!”They rushed to the clinic with joy in their eyes, And “Mister” meowed tales of his grand outdoor tries. Six months of adventure! Six months of his roam! But now he was safe, warm, and finally home.And just in the nick of time—winter’s cold bite Was sweeping the town through the shivery night.The moral? When someone needs help, whether human or cat, It takes courage and patience and heart—just like that. For saving a friend, whether tiny or fat, Sometimes calls for great will… to save one shy Orange Cat. Medium: Oil and paper on board Size: 18” by 24”
