We are cleaning the pool once again just before Memorial weekend. And of course I always worry about the cats when the water gets low in the deep end because it's hard to get out if one of them slips in. Thursday, I looked out the kitchen window and saw Sir Hops-A-Lot (Hopper for short) hanging over the edge in the deep end, backing up and running back to the edge. I rushed out and found a wet chipmunk huddled on the narrow ledge (4 feet below the deck) that circles the deep end just before it plunges down. The water level was about an inch below this slim ledge.
The little guy was scared and Hopper was ecstatic. I got the net to fish the little guy out but every time I got him on the net he would leap off back into the water. Hopper was having a delightful time running around trying to trip me and get to the chipmunk. I decided I would have better luck if I got Hopper in the house so I opened the slider to chase him in but he ran back to the pool and Riki Tiki Tavi came out. I ran back to the net and pushed the chipmunk toward the shallow end. Finally he got the hint, ran to the shallow end, up the stairs and into the grass.
But it was not to be, Ricky was there ready to play. He grabbed that little chipmunk in his mouth and took off running. Now I am chasing my cat with the pool net trying to get him to drop the chipmunk. He ran behind the fountain and I succeeded in getting him to drop the chipmunk who ran under the large rock at the foot of the fountain. Ricky & Hopper circled the rock pawing under it to get the little one out. He came out and Ricky immediately grabbed him again in his mouth. I whacked Ricky and the little guy was once again free again and ran back under the rock.
But alas, he didn't know enough to stay under the rock. Out he came and Ricky once again got him in his mouth and headed straight for the sliding door that I had left open, with Hopper hot on his tail.
So in we all went. Ricky took his prize into the living room and gingerly placed him on the floor right behind the red loveseat and began examining his new friend. Hopper jumped over Ricky and landed on the chipmunk. Under the love seat the chipmunk ran. I frantically went around closing doors and blocking the small openings under the doors with pillows.
Then I went to the front door to open it. Lo and behold the chipmunk somehow escaped the circling cats and met me at the front door. As I was unlocking the deadbolt, he was climbing the screen of the window up to the second floor. But just as I reached for the front storm door to open it, the chipmunk hit the top of the window screen and tried to continue climbing the wall. It was too slick and he fell to the rocks below. No, he didn't go out the door, he was scared by me moving in the direction I needed to go to open it. So back he went to the living room and under the loveseat.
The cats kept running in circles around the loveseat. Finally, I turned the love seat over...no chipmunk. Then I began turning over every piece of furniture in the living room. I really should have gotten a picture of the destruction I caused.
We never saw that chipmunk again, he had completely disappeared. Hopefully he ran out one of the doors I had left open.
Its been four days now. We don't smell anything yet and haven't heard any strange noises, but whenever one of the cats show a particular interest in a closet, I open it and let them check it out. Ah, nature
