Calico, that cat, is very beautiful – and she knows it! She lives in a big house with a big family who love her very much. The trouble is, she has a big opinion of herself and thinks she owns the house and everyone in it.
     “Beautiful Calico,” they say, “there is not another cat in the world as wonderful as you.” With this, Calico will stretch out on the floor, showing her silky coat and very long back legs and even longer front legs. Then she will roll over and show her other side, which she thinks is the best side for the many photographs taken of her.
     Calico keeps her grey, shiny, coat very clean with constant washing and her tongue is enormously long for licking even to the top of her back. Her owners help to keep her clean by giving her beds around the house of soft flannelette sheets which she loves to press with her paws before settling for sleep. There has to be more than one bed as cats like different sleeping spots and especially like to be high as they feel safer being able to see all round them. Calico’s favourite spot is in the linen cupboard on the top shelf – but mother doesn’t like that so wags her finger and says – “You have lots of nice beds all over this house, so stay away from my freshly washed and ironed sheets.” Calico just turns her back on mother.
     Meal time for Calico seems to be an all day affair as she demands food in her dish at all times and a serving of something different for supper. Little Johnny wails “that cat has more treats than I do, so I’m going to leave home.” Of course, he only gets as far as the front gate and then turns around and comes crying to mother again.
     Calico had a shock one day as she was chasing the leaves in the fall. It was very cold and she didn’t want to be out very long. She was fascinated by one very bright red leaf and chased it all over the garden and down into a groundhog hole! It was a good job the groundhog wasn’t there, but a strong wind was blowing and before Calico could get out of the hole, a big tree branch fell across its opening and didn’t leave enough room for her to get out.
     Then another horrible thing happened – it started to snow and the wind blew lots of the wet cold stuff into the hole and into Calico’s face. She was furious and started to wail long wails – “meow, meow, m-e-o-w.” No one came near and she knew father was away at work, mother was baking in the kitchen, I was upstairs doing homework and Johnny was packing his bag, ready to leave home again. Poor Calico – she was feeling utterly miserable, cold and wet and beginning to feel very hungry. She continued her wailing until father, coming up the garden path heard her and came to the big rescue.
     What a pathetic sight came in the door – a drowned rat couldn’t have looked worse. Our proud, beautiful, Calico had matted, wet fur, mud between her toes, sagging whiskers – and the most sad face ever seen on a cat.
     I would like to be able to say that this experience humbled our conceited pet, but by the time she had been gently washed with baby ‘no-tears’ shampoo, wiped over with a warmed, plush towel, given a gentle breeze from my hair dryer, then brushed with father’s new beard brush, she was as beautiful as ever and sat preening by her pastel pink dish until her special supper filled it.
     Today, Calico remains the heart of our household and still loves to play with the leaves but stalks with head held high past the groundhog holes and doesn’t even touch them with her whiskers.