I’ve decided to celebrate Joey the cat’s birthday on the 4th of July.  I’m not sure exactly when he was born since I got him from a shelter.  But, based on estimates of his age, he was born sometime around July, so I figure the 4th is a good day to celebrate.

He’s a year old now, and very much settled in.  One of the unique things about him is that he doesn’t really have a voice.  It’s rather disconcerting in a way because if he gets locked in somewhere, you’d never know it.  So, I’m very careful to check any room before I close the door.

When he does talk, it doesn’t come out as the usual Meow.  The closest I can come to describing it is Rrrreep!   But, it doesn’t seem to concern him.  Actually, you’d really never know he was abandoned; doesn’t seem to have any lingering paranoia.

I do know that he’s very smart.  I know, everyone says that about their pet.  And, for all you cat haters out there, you’re probably thinking, “Ha!”  But he is smart, and here’s how I know.  I taught him a trick.

Really, it was rather amazing.  The only other cats I’ve ever known well were not really open to being taught anything.  After a string of suggested cures (a spray water bottle, hissing, pleading and upside-down mouse traps), I finally got them to stay off the kitchen counters.  At least while I was in the room.

But, Joey is different.  His favorite toy is a long wire with a piece of leather on the end.  One day, I was sitting on the couch when he wanted to play, so I said, “Go get your wire, Joey!” 

The amazing thing was that he started running around like a dog when you’re teaching it a new trick.  You know how it goes – the dog perks up his ears and jumps around; he knows you want him to do something, he just doesn’t know what.  So, that got me to wondering if perhaps Joey could learn how to fetch his wire.

It took some time.  Joey views things very literally.  First he learned to fetch the wire and bring it back to me in the living room.  Then, for a while, he’d get the wire and return to his spot in the living room, even if I was in the kitchen.

But, now he’s got it down pretty good.  I throw the wire across the room and he runs to get it and brings it back, no matter where I am.  Just like when I’m playing with an  enthusiastic  dog, I get tired/bored with the game long before he does.  The last time I showed off his trick, my friend wanted me to do it again.  I think he assumed that the first time was just a fluke.

The vet says that Joey is a mutt, but he must have some Bengal cat in his history somewhere because his markings are exactly like a Bengal.  I’m glad Joey has such a good disposition, though.  One of the funniest cat videos I’ve ever seen was of a Bengal kitten.  I’m really glad I didn’t end up with this darling.  You cat people will love it!