Tom lay forlorn thinking about Kitty, the cat next door. Since moving in, all his advances had been spurned with either a hostile hiss or a paw swipe. He’d even brought her gifts, a mouse, a blue tit, and even a magpie, but each time he presented Kitty with his displays of affection, she had turned her tail up and walked off demurely.
He was fresh out of ideas, dozing in his basket, when an idea struck him. No idea is original, and he was inspired by a TV commercial for deodorant that he’d seen the previous evening while sitting in his owner’s lap. It was a gamble, and it would take some incredible ‘catrobatics’, but it may just pay off. He didn’t know how he would reach the catnip that his owner kept in a modified salt shaker on top of the bookcase, but he was determined to find a way.
The next day, he assessed the book case. He had no problem getting to the last shelf but the final leap to the top was just out of his reach. He pulled out a book, then another, and another to create a ledge and hey presto, he was on top.
He knocked the salt shaker onto the floor and smash, it went, on the floor. Disregarding the broken glass, he rubbed himself into a frenzy.
The owner came home, called him a naughty cat, and shooed him out into the back garden. Kitty came running over and he experienced the first of many cheek rubs.