Sir Cyrus’s Imprisonment
by Frank Shortt
Sir Cyrus is a large, grey striped cat with white socks. After many days of sleeping
on Frank and Sharon’s patio, they began calling him ‘Socks’. In fact, he had, more or
less, adopted Frank as his own. Sharon feared that he was actually lying around there
watching her hummingbirds coming and going. This could be! Cyrus likes nothing
better than basking in the warm sunlight.
Cyrus is the greatest mouser around. When he is outside he is constantly
prowling on Y.H. Court or the environs. If anyone’s garage door is open, he walks
gingerly around the whole perimeter, sniffing everything in sight, and it is easy to tell
what he is looking for. This is what led to his imprisonment and how Frank and Sharon
learned his true name.
Several times, since making Sir Cyrus’s acquaintance, Frank had noticed dead
mice, and even a large rat, lying at the base of the stairs leading up to John and
Veronica’s townhouse. They are Cyrus’ owners. This is Cyrus’ way of telling us that he is,
indeed, doing his job!
On Mother’s Day, May 10th, 2015, John and Veronica stopped Frank and Sharon in
the alleyway in front of their garage informing them,
“We have not seen Cyrus in about four days and we fear that someone or
something has detained him! We have already searched the area very diligently and
have even gone to the Animal Shelter, who informed us that no cats fitting Cyrus’
description had been brought in.”
This is how we finally learned the mouser’s real name.
“I am sure that he was here for a visit on Tuesday as he came in my garage where
I was working and did his sniffing routine and even lay down in the middle of the garage
for a rest.” Frank replied fearfully.
John and Veronica were leaving to visit John’s mother for her special day.
“If I see Cyrus I will try to detain him and let you know when you return,” Frank
assured them.
Aside from Frank not liking cats in particular, he had secretly grown fond of
Cyrus. If the cat did not come around for a couple of days in succession, Frank would
ask, “I wonder what has happened to Socks?”
Frank grew a little panicky. He visited several homeowners that afternoon letting
them know that Cyrus was missing. They all promised that they would inform him if
they should happen upon the wayward cat. Frank even went down by the creek to see if
any birds of prey were circling about. Someone had reported that coyotes had been seen
running through the complex on several occasions. Frank could but silently pray and
hope. He had never felt this way about a cat before. Was Frank becoming soft?
Late Mother’s Day, Frank was working on his computer when he heard a
thumping on his front door. As he looked out the, partially shaded window, he could
only see the feet of his neighbor’s dog. Upon opening the door, there stood Lisa, the
elementary school teacher, with her little dog on a leash. I had informed her beforehand
about the missing feline as he sometimes napped on her patio.
“I think I have found Cyrus the cat, she informed me. As I was walking my dog, I
thought I heard cat sounds coming from the garage at 2530 Y.H. Court. As I listened
more closely, I was sure there was a cat trapped inside!”
Frank immediately became elated! This was an answer to prayer.
“Let’s go see what we can do to rescue Cyrus, Frank urged. If we cannot extract
him, maybe we can slide some water and food under the door to keep him alive until
such time that the owners of 2530 return.”
Lisa was all for this plan.
There was no visible way that Cyrus could be rescued except to resort to breaking
down the door. They did not dare do this as it was not their door. They attempted to do
the second option. This proved to be a little more difficult than had been thought at first.
Frank remembered that he had a huge screwdriver in his tool box, so he ran to get it. By
placing the screwdriver underneath the door, Frank figured they could somehow squirt
some water under it and, at least, give the poor stranded animal some moisture. Cats
have a tendency to dehydrate quicker than most animals.
Lisa ran to get some water, and she just happened to have some cat food around
also. While she was gone Frank found that by prying upward he could make a space
about one inch wide. The container Lisa brought was a little too wide to fit underneath
the door! Not to be outdone, she went inside and returned with a paper bowl that would
go under the door by prying a little harder with the screwdriver. They could hear Cyrus
eating the food, and hopefully, drinking some water. Frank had called a relative of the
owners of 2530 to see if he might have a clue as to their phone number. This panned out
nothing. Lisa called the HOA and informed them of the situation that evening.
On Monday morning, Frank called Ron, a former board member, to try his key on
the garage door, hoping that maybe it would open. No such doings! He went home and
called the Homeowner’s Association again to see if maybe they could contact the owners
of 2530 Y.H., Mike and Cay to see when they would be home. Joanne had been trying
since Lisa called her on Sunday evening. Frank had told Ron to please give his number
to the HOA and if they found out anything to call him right away.
During the afternoon on Monday as Frank was taking a nap, the phone rang with
news from Joanne at the HOA that Mike and Cay were on their way home. This was
great news! Now Frank could breathe a little easier.
Frank and Sharon once again put some Tuna and water under the garage door to insure
that Cyrus did not dehydrate. This can be very dangerous for a feline as it could damage
their kidneys. When John arrived home from work he too was very happy that Cyrus
would soon be free. He and Veronica had also slid food and water under the door the
night before. Cyrus surely caught up on his eating.
Around 9:30pm, Cyrus was finally released from his imprisonment. He was a
little wobbly, somewhat disoriented, but seemingly able to function. He had not eaten
for at least five days, had been in solitary confinement for six days, and had not seen the
sunshine in all that time, what a cat!
Mike and Cay had left for a flight to Canada on Tuesday before Mother’s Day and
had never dreamed that there was a nosy cat inside their garage. Thankfully, Cyrus is a
very neat cat and did not rearrange the garage too badly. Thanks to all the neighbors
who pulled together to make sure Sir Cyrus will continue doing his great job of policing
the neighborhood for unwanted pests of the Rodentia persuasion. Three cheers for
Cyrus the Great Survivor!
Please remember, if your garage has been open for any amount of time, make
sure that Cyrus is not there nosing around your storage containers, before you close the
door. Who knows how many of his nine lives were used up during his incarceration?
We all know what he seeks most!
By Frank Shortt, honorary Mayor (:-) of Y.H. Court