When we first moved to the Yosemite area to open A Bed of Roses Bed and Breakfast we had a black cat named Hercules. Hercules was an outdoor cat. Well, we had heard that there were coyotes, bobcats and mountain lions living near Yosemite. So, we decided to convert Hercules into an indoor cat after we moved. I don't know if you've ever tried to convert a cat but, cats don't convert easily. Hercules kept escaping and he would be gone for several days at a time.
Right after we had finished renovating A Bed of Roses Bed and Breakfast we left on vacation. We wanted to have a week to relax before we became innkeepers and opened our doors for people all over the world to come to visit. As we were taking our luggage out to the car Hercules sneaked past and ran as fast as his little legs would carry him. He didn't know that we weren't going to be there when he came home a few days later.
When we did come home Hercules wasn't there. We spent many days and nights looking for Hercules and waiting for him to come home. After a couple of months passed we came to the sad realization that he wouldn't be back. Minnie, our toy fox terrier missed her best friend, Hercules. She became depressed and wasn't eating much. She hung her head and looked forelorn.
While at the veternarians office one day a few months later we saw several kittens being given away. We let Minnie pick one out and she immediately walked up to the black kitten and wagged her tail. We named the new kitty, Maxie. Minnie and Maxie played together but, Minnie was older and mellow and Maxie was young and hyper. Minnie was glad to have Maxie around but, it just wasn't the same.
One evening we were sitting around the living room at A Bed of Roses Bed and Breakfast having a cup of tea with some of the guests. One of the ladies asked if we let Maxie outside. We said, "Oh no, our last cat got eaten by coyotes so we keep Maxie in."
The next morning when I went into the living room to start the coffee I looked down and saw Maxie looking up at me and he meowed. Oh my God, that meow wasn't Maxie's meow. That meow could only belong to one cat, Hercules!! But, where did he come from? The guest from the previous evening walked into the living room just about then. She saw the black cat and said to me, "I hope you don't mind, but, I heard your cat crying outside my window last night. So I got up and let him in. I knew he wasn't supposed to be outside." I pointed at Hercules in disbelief and said, "This isn't the cat we were talking about last night, this is the cat that got eaten by coyotes over a year ago!"
Needless to say, Minnie was delirious to see Hercules was back. As were we. We often wonder where he was for over 13 months. But, he won't tell us. He hasn't strayed far from home since then. He is so happy to be home and he shows it to all of our guests by letting them pet him endlessly.
Both cats are indoor/outdoor now. There was a lot of posturing for position as the head cat after that. After all, Maxie thought he was an only cat and Hercules couldn't believe he'd been replaced. Once in a while there is still a battle for power and the cats will go running through the living room with Minnie hot on their tails barking at them both.
Right after we had finished renovating A Bed of Roses Bed and Breakfast we left on vacation. We wanted to have a week to relax before we became innkeepers and opened our doors for people all over the world to come to visit. As we were taking our luggage out to the car Hercules sneaked past and ran as fast as his little legs would carry him. He didn't know that we weren't going to be there when he came home a few days later.
When we did come home Hercules wasn't there. We spent many days and nights looking for Hercules and waiting for him to come home. After a couple of months passed we came to the sad realization that he wouldn't be back. Minnie, our toy fox terrier missed her best friend, Hercules. She became depressed and wasn't eating much. She hung her head and looked forelorn.
While at the veternarians office one day a few months later we saw several kittens being given away. We let Minnie pick one out and she immediately walked up to the black kitten and wagged her tail. We named the new kitty, Maxie. Minnie and Maxie played together but, Minnie was older and mellow and Maxie was young and hyper. Minnie was glad to have Maxie around but, it just wasn't the same.
One evening we were sitting around the living room at A Bed of Roses Bed and Breakfast having a cup of tea with some of the guests. One of the ladies asked if we let Maxie outside. We said, "Oh no, our last cat got eaten by coyotes so we keep Maxie in."
The next morning when I went into the living room to start the coffee I looked down and saw Maxie looking up at me and he meowed. Oh my God, that meow wasn't Maxie's meow. That meow could only belong to one cat, Hercules!! But, where did he come from? The guest from the previous evening walked into the living room just about then. She saw the black cat and said to me, "I hope you don't mind, but, I heard your cat crying outside my window last night. So I got up and let him in. I knew he wasn't supposed to be outside." I pointed at Hercules in disbelief and said, "This isn't the cat we were talking about last night, this is the cat that got eaten by coyotes over a year ago!"
Needless to say, Minnie was delirious to see Hercules was back. As were we. We often wonder where he was for over 13 months. But, he won't tell us. He hasn't strayed far from home since then. He is so happy to be home and he shows it to all of our guests by letting them pet him endlessly.
Both cats are indoor/outdoor now. There was a lot of posturing for position as the head cat after that. After all, Maxie thought he was an only cat and Hercules couldn't believe he'd been replaced. Once in a while there is still a battle for power and the cats will go running through the living room with Minnie hot on their tails barking at them both.
A truly moving and beautiful story!
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