Feline Friday

 Both cats are lounging in the living room.

Shadow:  I hear Mommy’s car on the driveway! She’s home! She’s home!  She’s home!  

Duchess: Calm down, she wasn’t gone that long. 

Shadow: I’m going to meet her at the door.

Duchess: (rolling her eyes) Take a chill pill.  Seriously.  You’re three years old, not a kitten.

Shadow:  (laughing) Just wait until Daddy gets home … you’ll pretend not to notice when he walks in, but then you’ll meow at him until he sits in the chair with you. 

Duchess:  How dare you …Um, what’s that thing she’s got in her hands?  It looks like … it’s…it’s…it’s a carrier.

Shadow: Oh, no … the only time we see a carrier is …when …when …it’s too horrible to think it …

Duchess: It looks like you’re going to the v-e-t…

Shadow:  Me?  It could just as easily be for you …

Duchess:  My carrier is upstairs. You outgrew the one Mom got when you were a kitten, remember?  Ha ha, enjoy your visit …

Several hours later, Duchess’s carrier has appeared in the living room, and sits beside the new carrier.

Shadow:  Looks like you were right, Duchess.  The new carrier is for me …

Duchess:  Don’t be so smug, kitten …

Shadow: I think they look cozy …as long as the door is open.  I’m going to try mine out!

Duchess:  (rolling her eyes) Foolish kitten.

Shadow:  yeah, it is cozy …I’m going to try yours, too.

Duchess:  you won’t be thinking it’s so cozy when the door shuts …

And then … the inevitable.  Shadow slips easily into her carrier.  Duchess fights tooth and nail to stay out of hers, voicing her complaints…

… and into the car we go.

The ride to the v-e-t takes ten minutes.  Shadow is trembling, Duchess continues to complain.

At least there aren’t any dogs in the lobby today!

And then it’s our turn to see the doctor.  And the cat who has been vocalizing her complaints about being in the carrier has suddenly decided that the carrier is preferable to the exam table …

She is weighed, examined and vaccinated.  

A much subdued Duchess is returned to her carrier, and then it is Shadow’s turn.

And then, the most painful part …at least from a human perspective … paying the bill.

Shadow relaxes on the trip home …Duchess still complains, but not as loudly …

And after a round of Temptations cat treats …

Shadow:  I’m glad that’s over with!  We don’t have to do this again until next year!

Duchess:  Speak for yourself … they want me back in June. (She shudders) Getting older …

Shadow: But 12 isn’t so old.  And besides, you’ve got me to keep you young!

Duchess: (groaning) I know.

Thus ends the annual visit to the …dare we say it?  The v-e-t …