While Cat-Mommy and -Daddy were both in the suitcase place I had some time to think about my big brother (or as Marliyn says, big bother) Pounce de Leon. Most of the time I detest big bother, but he has one or two talents. The first is that he has an excellent nose for food and treats. Bother Pounce can sniff out unseen food at a surprising distance.  His over-large, over-curious nose can smell through cabinet doors, regular doors, bank vault doors…you name it. His second talent is the ability to open some of the doors. He can open the sleeping room door, many drawers, and even cabinets as I discovered today.

Cat-Mommy is back from the suitcase place but had gone out to the briefcase place for the day. As Pounce and I slept in a warm sun spot he became restless. It had been several minutes since he’d eaten. Without preamble big bother got up, stretched, and strode purposefully into the food room. While I never seek contact with the hound I was curious to see why he would go to the food room when neither cat-parents nor vacation-feeders were there. So I followed.

Pounce jumped up to the servicing counter (this is where treats, scritches, and brushing are delivered) and began an intent examination of the treat cupboard. His clever nose sniffed studiously as his enormous feet (they are like large pizzas) searched for an opening. Before I knew it the treat cabinet was open and the hound had jumped inside. He snaked his way up the shelves and then leapt back down…holding THE TREAT BAG in his teeth! Away to the dining room we beetled, having learned at an early age that purloined goodies should not be consumed near the scene of the crime.

Heaven! We both had our fill of treats and then some. We spent the entire day in the dining room gorging, sleeping, gorging, and (in the case of big bother) barfing. The boy has his uses and is not so bad after all. From a distance, of course.