It was dark. I was hungry. I was lonely but worse than that—I, Zoe the Fabulous (and usually fearless) Feline, owner of one human named Emily—I was scared.
Hello, Everyone. I have a rather dark story to tell you. I am still a bit shell-shocked, so please forgive my lack of enthusiasm as I tell you about the worst experience of my life. I am still here, so my story does have a happy ending, but that is beside the point. The point is: What started out as a cool adventure turned into a frightful encounter with…
“The Thing.”
There I was . . . exploring the downstairs level of our home. I had snuck into a room that I had never been in before, a room way in the back of the house. Still under construction, this room did not yet have a door, but to get to it, you had to go through a room that did have a door. Which Emily keeps locked at all times.
Yesterday, while Emily was not home, the male human of our household was in and out, coming and going, bringing in all kinds of stuff. Annoying actually. But the upside was that he left the door open one time. One time . . . and I was ready. (I was born ready, just sayin’.) Like greased lightning, I was in the secret room beyond the door.
The room had lots of stuff in it. Stuff I could climb on, jump over, hide under. And that’s what I was doing when I heard some noises. I thought Emily had come home and was coming downstairs, maybe to play with me. Suddenly the room went dark.
Now that didn’t bother me much. We felines can see pretty well in the dark. So, she wants to play Hide ‘N Go Seek? Game on! I found a great hiding place in a box behind a bookcase, and waited for her to find me. And waited. And waited some more. Being all curled up and cozy in that box, I promptly fell asleep.
I awoke to find I was still alone and in the quiet dark. Nobody calling my name. Clearly, there was no game of Hide ‘N Go Seek going on. What was going on? Curious, I decided to go back upstairs and check out the situation. I strutted over to the entrance, only to find it blocked by something big, something that filled the entire doorway. I don’t know what The Thing was or how it got there, but I could not squeeze around it. It was tall, too, but not too tall for me. I jumped on top of it, but to my dismay, I found that The Thing almost touched the doorframe above; there was not enough room for even the Holy Ghost to slide through.
.
“The Thing.”
I jumped back down to the floor and sat there, calling my human. No response. I meowed a bit louder; still nothing. Where were they? Did they abandon me? I started to cry a little. I mean, I had no food, no water, no litter box – no treats – on this side of The Thing and I wanted out. Now! I cried even louder and, after what felt like forever, I caught the scent of my human and heard her coming down the stairs.
I am saved!
And so I was. But it had taken her a pretty long time to trace the sound of my cries to that secret room where The Thing held me captive. I forgave her, though. I mean, why would she even think to look there? Then, too, the first words she uttered when she realized where I was and what had happened was “Poor baby.”
“Poor baby”? I saw treats in my future!
I have to hand it to her. She didn’t even wait for him to move The Thing; she moved it single-handedly, all the while making soothing, sympathetic noises at me. The male human was not so lucky. She yelled upstairs to him, “Why did you put the fridge there? And when? Didn’t you see that Zoe was in there?!”
Finally, The Thing was out of the way. I leapt out of there and into her arms.
“Poor baby! How long have you been stuck in there, Zoe, hmmmmm?”
I meowed, “Too long!” She stroked my fur, and what do you know? When we got upstairs, she gave me a treat.
So there it is. My saga, my time of terror—the first scary experience of my life. I guess life cannot be all fun and games all the time. Darn it.

ZOE THE FABULOUS FELINE
Zoe (currently residing at Emily’s home HERE)
Zoe, you’re the bravest feline I know. None of my feline kids were that fearless. Well, Lunah came pretty close, but she never had to face off with The Thing. I’m so glad treats were in the wake of your close encounter. And remember: That which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger 🙂
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Ms. Tina, Lunah is a lovely name! And you must have equally lovely memories of your adorable felines. I think I read, maybe on FB, that all your felines have crossed over the Rainbow Bridge and that tugged at my heart. (And by the way, my human says that to me all the time…what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. You two in cahoots??)
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Now, Zoe, answering would be telling 🙂
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Your honor, please tell the witness she is being non-responsive. hehehehe…actually, that non-response was all the answer I needed, thank you very much. But, just because I like you, I won’t let on to my human that I know!
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You’re a pal, Zoe. Feel a nice belly scratching 🙂
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What a hair raising experience. I believe you’re right. Life sometimes throws us a curve and treats help. =^.^=
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You know it, LCTC! I would have been one unhappy camper if there had been no treats at the end of *that* ordeal. And The Thing has now been placed in its permanent home – one I cannot get stuck behind. I’ll just have to find other ways to get some sympathy–followed by treats!
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From previous chats, I recall you’re a good planner and thinker. May the force be with you.
=^.^= Dickens (Lady Gaga is sleeping).
BTW, whenever I have an original thought, which Lady G. supports, our human sprays us with a water bottle. The nerve!
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Hi Dickens! You know what our problem is? We should never have let our humans know how much we detest the water bottle. Big mistake…. sigh
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I don’t like the water bottle but I don’t let it stop me. Sometimes I get the upper hand. Meow.
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Poor, poor Zoe! I came to leave an award for Chris, but now I wonder if Zoe doesn’t deserve it after that trauma! 😉
https://ramblingsfromthedarkness.wordpress.com/2015/10/12/starlight-blogger-award/
If you don’t want to participate that is fine, I just wanted to share your blog link, but if you do that would be great too!
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THANK YOU Joleene – I’ll be along later to collect it and link back to you 😀
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Hello Joleene, I have the purrrrfect plan! Give Chris the award and give me a REward (translation, please send treats)!
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Lol!
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Hi Zoe. Pinky the Cat here. That was a terrifying story. My human keeps a “thing” in the closet that she lets out every week. I run for the hills when it starts roaring and sucking up all my cat hair. I think it would eat me if I didn’t under the deck. My human offers me treats and belly rubs to get me back inside. The stuff we do for treats, huh?
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Exactly, Pinky!! And I, too, hate those things. My human even tried to use one on me once, but I got away. Cats are fast, humans are silly!
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So sorry to hear of your terrible experience, Zoe. I think it happens to all of us cats, at least once. I was locked in a closet with a lot of soft things to sleep on – the door was open, and I just curled right up on one of the blankets. Then someone closed the door and I didn’t hear anyone for hours, and I called and called. I think our human are all the same, though. When she found me I got lots of pets and strokes and treats and “poor Elijahs!” Do you think this is where the phrase “curious as a cat” came from?
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Hi Elijah Moon! Yes, I think you’re on to something…there’s also “curiosity killed the cat”….yikes! What am I saying??! (By the way, know where else I like to hang out? Drawers! One time, when I jumped in, the darn thing closed! I think we have way more than nine lives, thank goodness!)
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Reblogged this on The Life & Times of Zoe the Fabulous Feline and commented:
Of course, I have to reblog my own story!
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Hmmmm, methinks my “fabulous feline” sure knows how to play me for treats!
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Poor Zoe, but she got out, that is good and got a treat. Even better. Could be a lesson for children, not to go where they shouldn’t go.
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Hi Gigi….children, schmilden! Only kidding….but lessons are sooooo boring.
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Of course they are. That’s why they never be respected, considered by children and not doing them, always regarded until the next time. 😀
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Poor Zoe. So glad she was freed from The Thing! 😀
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Charles…is it Charles? I’m glad you’re glad but you weren’t as glad as I was! Thanks for reading and commenting on my story!
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Cheryll, and I am glad you are out and safe. 🙂
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Cheryll. I like the unusual spelling…fabulous, darlin’, fabulous!!
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Thanks. My Mother wanted to be different. 🙂
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What a scary adventure for sweet Zoe…good story Chris!
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Scared? Who was scared? Did I say I was scared?? Ok, maybe I was at first….for a few seconds…..
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