The Barracks Cat

Story of a smart, no-nonsense cat using one of her nine lives.

People called her Crow, perhaps because she looked like the bird, sleek in
form and jet black in color.  Her home was an old barracks now used as a
works shed for the Canadian National Exhibition.  Her job was to keep the
mouse population under control during the winter months. Crow did her job
well and her payment was food and water, always left in the north corner of
the building, by the manager's office.

When the tulips and daffodils flowered in the Spring she knew her work was
done for another year.  The time had come to move outside into fresh air and
sunshine. Crow delighted in meeting her friends who lived as she did in
other buildings.  Together they would explore acres of display centers,
booths, rides and concession stands.  It was neat to watch the action as
workmen prepared for the main event or to just romp about at will.  Food and
water were easy to find and she could always slip under a porch or
floorboard to sleep at night.  It was the best.

As the end of summer and Exhibition time approached Crow was faced with some
decision making.  She was already heavy with a new litter of kittens and
needed to find refuge to deliver her offspring … a place that would be safe
from the crowds of people she knew would soon arrive.  The barracks was no
good because people were now coming and going at all hours.  Her normal
outdoor sleeping spots were too exposed. Thousands of children would come
with the crowds and they would explore every corner looking for another
potential thrill.  After days of searching she found a spot.  It was under a
new building by the east gate, close to the railway line but protected by a
fence.  Nobody would find them there.  Food stalls were close by so short
night trips would ensure all the nourishment she would need.

Her plan was good but even as Crow approached the end of term she didn't
feel rushed to go into hiding.  She continued to roam and then one fateful
night she chose the wrong floorboard to sleep under.  As opening day was
getting closer the sound of hammers banging and drills drilling way into the
night was common so she'd learned to sleep through anything.  Unfortunately
that night workmen enclosed the floor of the booth under which she was
sleeping.

Her first reaction when she woke in the morning was panic.  There was no way
she could dig beneath the wallboards because they had been driven deep to
support the structure above.  Now the concession stand was completed there
was nobody to hear her cries.

After the initial shock wore off Crow looked about to assess her situation.
At least there was a bit of air circulating and there were spaces in the
floorboards above her.  She sensed her kittens would arrive soon and knew
they'd be trapped until the fair was over.  Two days passed and she
concentrated hard on a new plan.  In the middle of the second night she
realized her babies were about to drop.  She pulled them one by one to the
safety of her belly knowing it was important to keep them warm.  There were
three boys and two girls.  As she cleaned and examined each one in turn she
verified they were all healthy.  It would be several days before they opened
their eyes and started to move, enough time to establish a routine.

From the sounds outside and overhead the show was about to start.  She
thought if I can just get through the first day we'll be okay.  Crow was
counting heavily on her ability to sleep through anything.  Next morning the
gates opened.  It wasn't long before the nightmare began.  It sounded like a
herd of elephants overhead.  Loud harsh voices going up and down the pitch
scale and stomping feet that made the whole structure shake.  At first it
was threatening and she could feel her heart pounding in anticipation. It
happened gradually but finally a rhythm developed and she was able to drift
off to sleep.  As nighttime approached the sounds eased off.

Waking slowly and stretching to get the kinks out she felt her little babies
fall away from their nests and watched them fumble to get back.  They
crawled over each other, rolling and falling in their blind quest.  It was
interesting to see how their instincts were a driving force and she pushed
them gently as encouragement to keep moving.  This would be their routine �"
sleep during the day and move about at night.  It was a relief to see food
had dropped through the floorboards and a pool of water had accumulated in
the corner.  Crow ate and drank what she needed and then settled to feed the
kittens.  Her milk would be enough for them.  For 15 days she followed this
routine methodically.  During the day she would shield the little ones from
the noise overhead. During the night she nudged and prodded, teaching them
all she knew about survival.

None too soon the show ended and within several days workmen began to
dismantle the stand.  When they pulled the first floorboard up and
discovered Crow and her family there was a lot of confusion.

"Hey guys, come and see what we found.  There's a family of cats under this
floor.  They must have been trapped here.  Be careful, they've got to be
really wild after what they've been through … it's hard to believe they're
still alive."

The men watched warily as Crow slowly stood up.  She looked at her five
little babes and gave each one a nudge to stand with her.  Then she turned
and leapt through the gap taking everyone by surprise.  Without a backward
glance she ran at top speed back to her home, the barracks.  She'd done her
job �" her plan had worked.  Her lovely kittens were alive, a bit wild, but
alive to follow their own destiny.  She knew from previous litters the
workmen would now take over.

"I'll be" said the kindly lead workman.  "Looks as though we've been left
with a big responsibility.  These kittens need a home."