Ling, my grandparents’ cat, is Tonkinese – a mixture of Siamese and Burmese.
He’s 16 now and suffers from arthritis, kidney failure and glaucoma, but still loves life. He’s a terrible nag, and even though he is supposed to be on a low protein diet he nags my grandma so much that she often gives in and he gets tuna fish and chicken. But this talent for nagging saved my grandparents’ house from being robbed. He may even have saved their lives.
It was six years ago, in February. My grandparents had gone out to rent a video, and when they returned they forgot to turn on the alarm. They went to the family room at the back of the house to watch their movie, unaware that the robbers were watching them and had parked their van in the neighbours’ dark driveway. The neighbours were away from home.
Stealthily the burglars began to break in to the front of the house, where family heirlooms and antique furniture were kept. Little did they know that a pair of green eyes was watching them from beneath a bush. Even if they had known, they probably wouldn’t have paid much attention to a small brown cat.
Ling jumped up on the roof, went inside through the bathroom window and ran down to my grandparents in the family room. He was agitated and meowed frantically. He kept running to the door as if he wanted my grandma to follow him.
My grandma reluctantly left the warm room and followed him. Ling started jumping at the dining room door handle. ‘Ling, what do you want to go in there for? It’s far too cold,’ my grandpa said, but Ling kept nagging. Finally my grandpa turned the key and opened the door. To his horror, two men were carrying the family furniture out to the waiting van.
My grandpa ran to the phone and called the police. When they arrived, they said that if Ling hadn’t disturbed the robbers they would have stolen everything in that room and possibly even attacked my grandparents. The robbers did get some stuff but Ling saved most of it.
Ling is mellow, loving and affectionate and we all love him. He looks so wise, as if he knows everything.
Sarah Morel
County Wicklow
Ireland
From Cats are SMARTER than JACK
