Bozo's page

The Bozo-Cat

cat art or feline yoga

This is a page about our cat, Bozo. She came into my life about ten years ago in while I was trying to live in Southern California.
She wandered over to me in a parking lot one evening, crying piteously and wearing a pink collar
with a jingling bell on it - but no ID tags. So there I was, faced with this half grown kitten-cat that seemed to have lost her way. What was I to do? I decided that I must help her find her home (little did I realize at the time that would mean my home).
She came to dinner that night stuffed into my old MC jacket, half closed to keep her safe and close, so as not to abandon her in our car and traumatize her further. As I was finishing my slice of pizza - ZIP! - out swipes these cat claws and nabs the last bit of my meal! So, for the time being, she was given the name Slick.

We then took her home and proceeded to paper the area with "found cat" posters, called the relevant agencies and vets in a decent sized radius from the park where she was found, and continued to think, "her family will call soon". Days turned into weeks. This furball showed herself full of mischief, and some feline malice as well, causing my elderly cat TJ much stress and strain. The new cat's antics included "chase the geezer cat", "bite the feet that go to the cat food mines for you", and "stand by small objects, high off the ground on shelves, and wait till someone is looking your way - then knock it off with your forepaw and run for it!". The name Slick was removed and she was dubbed Bozo.
No one ever called to take her home. I was tricked by that sweet meow and the pink collared jingle! So we had two cats.

Time goes on and she has had many travels and adventures. Bozo has lived with us in every state on the west coast. She has made it through having a new baby in the house (she groomed him until be became self-mobile), teaching my son manners about animal handling, two dogs, house renovations, earthquakes, and a flood. She and I have worked through most of my resentment at the way she entered my life and how she behaved (or misbehaved) towards my very aged cat TJ. She has mellowed tremendously over the years and now is a rather sweet companion, though I still have scars on my insteps from her youthful sharpness!