Some have no legs at all!

There is never a dull moment at our place. One minute we are lazing around on a hot Sunday afternoon and the next moment we are all rushing around in the garden with brooms and sticks on a rescue mission! Guess what has happened- the baby of our cat family has run away with a snake in her mouth!

Smudge is the centre of attraction with the snake, appreciably longer than her, dangling from her mouth. A number of other cats are watching enviously.  A cat game has some rigid rules. No cat is allowed to take away anything of interest from another- no matter how tough he or she may be.

Smudge has no idea what her next step should be and since I happen to be in the garden decides to show me her catch! Perhaps she finds the next bit rather baffling. I scream for help and the next moment everyone is out trying to rescue this ‘innocent’ snake.

The sticks and brooms work and Smudge decides to drop her catch. She and the other cats run off to the backyard.

The snake, meanwhile, has had enough. It just wants an ‘out’ from the garden. It slithers off at top speed but the wall doesn’t allow her to go. The only exit is blocked by our plum pudding cat Shamoli.

Shamoli is a class apart and cannot be hurried. Moreover, she is sitting like a mother hen under the asparagus. (The asparagus, with its thorns has been planted to prevent the cats from escaping from the garden) B tries to pick up Shamoli for the snake is making rapid progress in her direction. Not much is achieved as B and her hair gets caught in the asparagus.

At last Shamoli responds to all the poking and prodding. She gets up in slow motion and majestically walks over the snake totally oblivious of the drama around her. The snake finds the opening, breathes a sigh of relief and slithers out. We return to the house waiting for the next episode to unfold.