Cats

For those of you who know my animals, my dog is a scaredy cat and my cat has no fear.   I believe Tel Aviv is the cat captial of the world.  Cat fights happen every second.  It seems to all take place outside of our apartment. They fight over cars, under cars, in rose bushes, right on our patio, and in Makai's Radio Flyer.  We live about 3 to 4 stories up.  I still can't figure out how they manage to jump and from what location. 

Since cats have a special status in Tel Aviv, I have noticed they are left alone and "green patrol" (animal control) ignore them.   Pali and I have been stopped by green patrol.  It's amazing how our US citizenship allows us not to abide by the laws of Israel.  I show my passport and Voila, you are dismissed as I watch other people getting tickets for their dogs being off leash.  

Anyways, back to the cat situation.  So, the story goes that at some point in Tel Aviv there were too many rats/mice.  There was a campaign to bring in cats so they can rid Tel Aviv of all the mice.  Well, for the most part, I find this not entirely true.  I've seen some dead mice on the street.  They were being eaten by stray dogs and birds.   I have yet to see a cat do this.  If they are like Sabbia, they chase these little critters to play with them and killing them accidentally.

Scott and I both have this fear of Sabbia getting out and getting attacked by the cats.  Cats here are aggressive.  Yesterday I left the patio door unlocked without realizing it.  When we came home Scott noticed the door wide open.  I see Sabbia on the steps.  Ok good, she didn't go out.  About an hour passes by and I ask Scott if he has seen the cat.  He says no.  I said did she go outside when you locked the door.  He said I don't think so.  So I head upstairs and about 10 minutes later something tells me to look outside to be sure.   As soon as I walk to the door I see Sabbia on the ledge of the patio about to jump.  I freak and yell SABBIA'S ON THE LEDGE OF THE PATIO!  SHE'S GONNA JUMP!   I think she wanted to catch a bird.

In my nice voice I say Saaa---bbiiiaaa...  Here Saaaabbbbiiiiaaa... Luckily she turns around, heads to the door waging her tail and shaking her butt excited to see me.  I feed her a bag of treats for coming.  Where was Pali? Sitting at the patio door whining.  She wanted to go outside but since Sabbia was out there she decided it was best to stay indoors.