The Lives of Nine Cats: Wiley

Wiley, The Curious Cat with Nine Lives

By V. Clark

Today the caramel cat named Wiley arrived in Spring Hill, Tennessee. It was like coming home. Wiley couldn’t believe that it was five years ago when he was born in this very area. He was back where his life started.

Wiley doesn’t remember much of those early days as a kitten. He was not more than four months old when he found himself stuck between the engine and the hood of a car. Only a very curious kitten could get himself in that kind of trouble! Wiley is just that, a very curious cat.

Less than hour after the car started in his hometown, Wiley arrived in Nashville. The hood opened and he sought freedom high in a small tree outside the home of a lady named Jean. Wiley was shaken and afraid of his new surroundings. But, the little caramel kitten soon settled outside Jean’s house and was in fact, quite comfortable. The kind lady loved on him, brought him tidbits of food and provided him with water. Although confused, dazed and a bit sore he was thankful that he’d used one life and still had a story to tell you. They say cats have nine lives. Lucky for this kitten that story must be true.

The summer went by and fall fell upon the city. Jean and her husband left on vacation and once again Wiley was alone and confused. The food and water lasted, but he was eager to find a kind human to pet him and give him hugs.

One day while chasing a leaf, a leaf the same color as his fur, Wiley noticed two ladies across the street. He looked both ways and ran to safety behind a big tree. It was a big adventure for such a little cat. He peeked out around the big tree and looked at the ladies.

Soon the ladies smiled at him, talked to him sweetly and came over to scratch him behind the ears. When it started to rain they quickly delivered a bowl of food tucked under a car to keep it dry. Later that night they made him a nice bed in a box by the front door of the house. He curled up in the bed, yawned and as he kneaded the blanket in the box he felt sure this would be his new home. He just had to convince the lady that lived in that house to let him in the front door!

The next few days Wiley was on his best behavior rubbing against the lady’s legs and batting his eyes each time she approached him. It didn’t take long and he was home sweet home. Thankfully she was quite fond of him, showing him lots of love every day. He adjusted to the two cats of the house, Lynx and Michaela Ann and in turn, they adjusted to him.

Over the next few years Wiley would use up two more of his nine lives. In both cases he slipped outside and couldn't find his way home. Little Wiley was a scaredy cat and was always better off staying inside where he belonged. When he was gone he always missed his human mommy and the other cats of the house.

So today as he sat sunning in the window of the new house he looked around and smiled to himself. It felt good to be safe and sound, back in Spring Hill and that was exactly where he planned to stay!