The downside of science

I have always felt that scientific progress and was a good things. But your name doesn't have to be Iccarus to dissagree with me on that one. I saw evidence of that this very evening.

We have three cats, two who have no front claws and have lived their whole lives indoors, never really understanding what dogs are or how they are not "friends to all things feline". The other cat has her claws, and when confronted with a dog turns into a Halloween kitty, all arched back and hissing. And that's the way it should be. Cats should fear dogs. It's nature, and don't give me any tree hugging, granola-crunching love and peace bull arguments to the contrary. That's just the way it is. My wife and I had two of our friends down for a basketball game this evening, and since one of them has a recently injured dog which needs supervision, we let him bring his dogs down. Not a big deal. They are well behaved, perfect ladies. But they are dogs. So we locked the cats up with food, water, and a litter box.

Actually, one was inadvertantly locked in a bedroom for two hours with none of the above because she was hiding when the dogs got there. Yes, this is the one who fears dogs. The other two, big fluffy brothers who frequently act like dogs, got locked in the laundry room with every comfort except human companionship and catnip. (Hey, it was a moderatly confined space. Locking them in with drugs somehow seemed wrong.)

After two hours, we observed the door knob for the laundry room twist. The brothers, not unlike the Greek legends who fashioned wings of feathers and wax, were trying to make a break for it, unaware of the dangers of their potential escape. But we figured, hell, they have to hold the handle down, and then pull the door open. No way that is going to happen, and if it does, well, they deserve freedom. We imagined them plotting their escape just the other side of the door. "Ok, Misty. Let me stand on your back so I can get the handle, and this time, really try to get your paw under the door and pull. Don't let me down here, bro."

Lo and behold, after fifteen minutes of experimentation, the handle twisted down and stayed there for a good ten seconds. It was long enough for one of them to pull the door open with his little grey paw from beneath the door. And like that, they were free, looking every bit as confident and in comand as the crew from Resevoir Dogs as they walk down the street in their suits. Heaven help me, I don't think I've ever been prouder of them.

If the dogs hadn't been on the other side of a screen door and on a leash, this story might have had a different ending. As it was, my wife and daughter coralled the escaped criminal masterminds, and locked them upstairs with their half-sister who knew well enough not to try to get out in the first place.

Science. It's a good adventure. Just make sure you know what's on the other side of the door. Otherwise you could end up like Iccarus.

-T