Mom’s Pest Control

Murdarici [Moordarich] was my housemate for the last three months or so. He has many good qualities. One thing I especially like is how smart he is. Once I asked him to bring me my soap. He stopped from cleaning himself, looked at me attentively and perked up his ears as I repeated the request. When he realized I was being silly, he dismissed me, continuing with his cleaning.

"Don't Mind Her. She Likes Me."

He is not one of those needy, clingy cats that nags and rubs on you. He is super independent and that I absolutely love about him. Once in a while he comes and lies on my feet. Of course, than I want to pet him and play with him. But he doesn’t mind if I pet him and play with him any time either. Actually, he is getting addicted to it. I’ve got to keep him away, lest he becomes clingy like the rest of the cats.

"I Love It When You Do That"

It took us a while to become friends. He was keeping his distance before he realized he’s got nothing to fear. Now when I come from somewhere he runs to me as if I’m his long missing friend.

I forgave him some of his mishandling of my property. One morning I found the oven open. It had three pieces of chicken left there from evening. One was missing. After my investigation into the matter, I have learned that Murdarici is quite capable of opening the oven door and doesn’t have an issue with getting anything that doesn’t belong to him. I love animals. There is a saying: since I’ve got to know people, I love my dog even more. Joke. I love people too. But I do have a problem when pets get into my stuff, messing it up or eating it. Or I should say, they a have a problem. :)

"My Nose Hurts"

Another thing I love about Murdarici is that he is Mom’s pest control. One day I even helped him catch a mouse in the barn. The mouse was in a sack. Murdarici managed to immobilize it, but couldn’t get it out. He also catches birds, when they go to sleep at night in the walnut tree. Ferocious. 

Mom & Murdarici Talk a Lot (guess who does most of the talking)

One June morning on the path in the garden, I ran into this dead rat. It was pretty dead. I mean it’s been there a few hours perhaps, because it was stiff. Ha! I had my suspicions that it might be Murdarici’s doing, but didn’t give it much attention. The only thought of concern that crossed my mind was that he dragged some poisoned rat from somewhere.  But I think he's smarter than that. 

Dead Rat

Later during breakfast Murdarici came looking at me with big eyes. I asked him: what’s the matter? Then, I noticed he’s got a bigger nose and some blood stain on it. He must have been in a ferocious fight and that rat bit his nose. That’s why he didn’t care to eat it at that point. I empathized with him as he laid down. Since I was eating, I had to pet him with my feet. He doesn’t mind.

"Are You Taking a Picture of Me? Stop It."

And of course he is beautiful.  Don't you agree?

One day, while perhaps chasing after a mouse, he fell into the outhouse… Yep! Guess who had to clean him? Mom only yelled at him, and chased him away. So, he was sitting miserable in the grass at the corner of the house, meowing pathetically. And I had only one rubber glove.