Poor Harley!

Harley has a new "do"!

Not by choice, mind you!

Late Saturday afternoon as hubby was going in and out the door, grilling on the back deck, Harley managed to scoot out the door. There was plenty of daylight left and I figured Harley would "hang out" in the yard. No such luck. Harley has a mind of his own, and once he's out the door, there's no catching him. Harley comes back when Harley WANTS to come back. But he usually comes back pretty quickly. So when dark came and still no Harley, I knew something was up! I started walking the neighborhood, and sure enough, Harley had found him a little playmate...another neighborhood cat. Well, I needed Harley to come home and Harley wasn't going to have anything to do with me, so he ran off. As I was headed home to get my youngest son, hoping he'd have better luck calling this little mischievous feline, I heard the cat wollering begin! They were in a scrap and I couldn't see either one of them. So, when neither cat was anywhere to be found I gave up and went home. Harley eventually came to the back door and he was fine and happy to be home.

On Sunday, my son noticed Harley with a drooped tail, not wanting to eat or play. Monday was even worse and he even hissed at me for no apparent reason. He winced when I touched his back or tail. Still, I couldn't see or feel anything. So when Tuesday didn't show any improvement I took him to the vet. Sure enough....Harley had an abscess on his tail and two little bite marks from his little neighborhood playmate. I was amazed at how fast a cat bite could become infected.

So Harley is now walking around with a half shaven tail. At least he's now up and eating and beginning to act like his ole self. I figured "well at least he's learned his lesson". No way! I just went out into the yard, and as I was opening the door to come in Harley tried to scoot out again. I stopped him and shooed him back in! Oh Harley, won't you ever learn!