There's a new inhabitant in the neighborhood who has already become a vexation to my spirit. His name is DC, and he's a cat who thinks he is so cool.  Suave, debonair, graceful and elegant; those are the words he uses to describe himself.  He and I have been engaging in verbal repartee ever since I met him last week. I must admit this Siamese Tomcat holds his own with me at times; an event which might shatter the confidence of a less arrogant dog. He get's my back up, he's so sure of himself. This is my first experience with the give and take of the cat and dog life, and it's been mentally draining dealing with this feline fellow.  Every time I verbally destroy him, he comes back with another sharp clawed retort.  It almost seems like he has nine lives.  I'm beginning to think that I need to employ a new strategy in my dealings with this character. There's more than one way to skin a cat. 

DC says that he's on the trail of a gang of cat burglars who have recently been preying on Wind Meadows residents.  I roll my eyes and go along with his charade, just to keep him talking.  I don't want to rub his fur the wrong way.  When I challenge him and note his diminutive size, he tells me he's no scaredy cat.  I have to be careful when i chide him, sometimes he turns into a sourpuss when I egg him on too much.  As for me, I feel like I'm sitting in the cat bird seat when I get him agitated and make him lose his self proclaimed "cool".  I made a bet with him, maintaining that he's really an ordinary old alley cat, and that he's just making up stories about his crime fighting prowess.  To my surprise he took the bet, and even offered to sweeten the kitty.  I told him sure, even though I don't know what that means. He displayed a self-satisfied cheshire grin, and said something about swallowing a canary.

I've heard about the famous feuds that cat and dog families have engaged in over the ages.  When DC and I get together, the fur often flies. I pride myself on my tolerance, but these felids are so finicky and fastidious. It's kind of fun to rile them and take them out of their comfort zone.  I must admit though, that DC is a Hep Cat.  He's hip to the latest cat lingo. He brags that he's the cat's meow to all of the cat women.  I find myself not entirely immune to his charms, although I will never intimate as much to him.  With his worldly background, he's probably spent his life catting around.  He's probably not fit company for a sophisticated lady like me. Still, he's a curious little fellow. He may just be another breed of cat. Time for a little catnap, I'm all stressed out.

                                              "Dogs believe they are human, Cats believe they are God"
                                                  -unknown                          
Exactly!