PRECIOUS PETS

Precious Pets Crazy Cat Codes

by Georgie Damschroder

When owning a cat, there are some rules you may give your feline. No scratching the furniture, no jumping on the counter, and no dragging prey into the house are all common etiquettes by which most cats must abide. But some cities and countries made cat rules an official part of the law and what very strange laws they are! According to catingtonpost. com for example, if you’re a smoker, you may want to think twice before letting your cat have a go, for in Zion, Illinois, it is illegal to hand a lit cigar to cats. On the topic of sharing things, if you want to give kitty a nibble of your food, you’re legally obliged to fork over exactly half of whatever you’re eating to her in Italy. And while your cat may be inclined to slink around when it’s nice and dark after enjoying your dinner, they better not be caught doing so in Japan, where the curfew for any cat to be out is no later than eight p.m. If you’re wondering what your beloved cat may have been doing if not for the night time limit, simply ask the town of International Falls, Minnesota, who apparently had one too many run-ins and finally made it illegal for a cat to chase a dog up a telephone pole. One local cat has lived in three different countries with some potentially quirky laws. Fourteen year old Leisel is a tabby cat who has lived in Germany, Canada, and now finally resides in the U.S.A. with Shelley Decker and Neil Murdoch on Adgate Road in Shawnee. She was adopted when she was around nine by her loving family from a shelter where Shelley worked.

Neil Murdoch & Shelley Decker

“She seemed so sad at the shelter, so I decided she needed to come home with us,” Shelley says. Leisel was born in Germany, where she lived for eight years before moving to Canada with her previous owners. After being adopted by Shelley and Neil, she lived with them in Canada for a while before moving down to Ohio. Decker & Murdoch strongly believe in an “adopt-don’t-shop” message, encouraging others to consider a shelter pet before purchasing from a breeder. They were specifically looking for an elderly shelter cat in need, which was when Leisel came into their lives at the perfect time. Now, Leisel lives the life of luxury in her retirement days, rolling about on soft carpets and getting lots of pats and scratches from her doting family. When the couple curls up for a quiet day of reading or relaxing in front of the TV, Leisel is sure to be there, purring and snoozing to her heart’s content. When Leisel does have to be left alone, she behaves herself quite well, even allowing pet sitters to momentarily take the place of her favorite people. Of course, she still misses Shelley and Neil terribly, and always loves greeting and nuzzling when they return home. Neil may have to leave often to work at the Cenovus Refinery, while retired Shelley may be home more often with Leisel. Leisel keeps out of trouble and loves her peaceful and caring life with Shelley and Neil in the more normally-lawed town of Lima.