Karnak Street Kats

Betsy was a small, tortoiseshell female, that appeared on our porch one day. I asked around the neighborhood, but nobody claimed her. Years later I learned that a neighbor had found her in a parking lot and brought her home. When the neighbor learned that Betsy had adopted us, she decided to say nothing and let Betsy be ours.

At the time we had three other cats and four dogs. Betsy adapted to the household without a problem. She was a very calm cat, but she wanted to be with people and did not like being left in the house with the other pets. We had a cabin near Marble Falls in those days and went there every weekend. Usually, we just took the dogs and had a neighbor check on the cats who were left with plenty of food and water if we stayed overnight. Betsy did not like this.

One Saturday morning as I called the dogs to the car, Betsy came running. She jumped in the back seat and sat down, the dogs piled in after her. Betsy did not move. After a family discussion, we decided to let Betsy go with us. She made the trip with no problem, enjoyed the cabin (I had packed cat food) and joined the dogs in the back seat when it was time to come home.

This soon became a routine and Betsy went with us whenever the dogs did. One problem did develop. Betsy liked to curl up to sleep in the back seat. The dogs bounced from window to window. Inevitably, Betsy got stepped on. I could always tell because she made a strange grunt whenever that happened. Eventually, I purchased an all wire container with a metal tray in the bottom that Betsy could curl up in. I secured it with a seat belt. Betsy slept happily and the dogs could not step on her.

I have never had another cat that would ride so calmly in a car. All my others needed to be in a carrier. Betsy was unique.