Dorothy’s Place: The Flying Cats
By Dorothy Denne
A flying squirrel is a strange, nocturnal squirrel that glides by means of skin folds between its hind and forelegs, using its flattened tail as a rudder. From a 60 foot perch, the flying squirrel can soar as far as 160 feet. But, they really don’t fly. They glide.
Flying fish are 7- to 12-inch, cigar-shaped, warm water marine fish with blunt snouts and heavy diamond shaped scales. Some are two winged and others are four winged. They have no commercial value.
Flying fish actually do not fly. By vibrating their tails they work up enough momentum to leave the water and glide through the air by means of the wing-like fins. They often achieve a speed of 35 miles an hour. They “fly” primarily to escape from predatory fish and can stay up only a few seconds. So, they really don’t fly. They just kind of jump.
Cats can be large, wild, carnivorous mammals as well as domestic pets. Generally speaking, all cats have lithe, muscular bodies that are sleekly trim. While their size range is wide, all cats have legs moderately long in proportion to their bodies.
They walk softly on their toes and have long, sharp claws that are retractile into their foot pads. Most cats are good climbers but they do not fly.
I have cats that fly. I have 38 flying cats. Yes, I do. Well, I had 38 but some have flown away. Actually, my flying cats are like the squirrels and the fish. They don’t really fly. But, the 38 cats to which I refer are related to time and we all know how that flies.
You see, these 38 are pictures of cats on the pages of my calendar. I seem to turn the pages so quickly. January with three little kittens in a basket suddenly turns to March with two more grabbing at a kite string, to May with romping in a flower garden. And now October with a gorgeous black cat sitting on a pumpkin. So the time flies and thus my flying cats.
The 38 will fly away faster than I can comprehend and before I know it, January will come again with a new provision of flying cats.
They really don’t fly but, sitting on the pages of a calendar, they seem to.