Tango and the boy who fell down the well - a true story about a
fantastic feline

Tango is a large and very regal ginger tomcat that can often
be found teaching the scratching post a lesson it will never
forget.

If it weren't for his gentle nature it would be easy to get
intimidated by him, but even though he's the largest of our
cats by a long way he's just too laid back to fall out with
anyone.

When Tango was still just a couple of years old he
disappeared. We were sure he'd just fallen asleep somewhere
out of earshot but when he didn't come home for breakfast
the next morning we were sure something was wrong.

We all went out looking for him and, thinking the worst, we
scoured the main roads in the area to no avail. Walking
around the housing estate and the local fields calling him
didn't do any good either.

I was just about to give up when an unknown cat accosted me.
I was a little surprised that, seeing how I'd never met this
cat before, he was rubbing up against my leg, meowing at me
very purposefully and then running a few yards away before
repeating the routine.

Now, I've seen the odd episode of Lassie and always laughed
at how the people always understood that the boy had fallen
down the well simply from a few barks and a bit of running
about, but in my desperation to find Tango I convinced
myself that this cat was trying to tell me that he knew
where Tango was.

Yes, I felt silly, and yes, I doubted myself, but short of
other options I decided to follow the cat and see where he
lead me. We walked quite a way up the road and around a few
corners, with my new friend looking round regularly to see
if I was still there.

Eventually he stopped and sat down in the garden of a
slightly dishevelled house, before disappearing round the
back.

By this point I was very aware that what I was doing was
ridiculous, but none the less, I checked around me to see if
anyone was about and noticing no one I walked round the side
of the house.

I got to the back of the house and looked up, to my complete
shock there was Tango, standing at the window, looking at me
through an upstairs window scratching to get out!!

Being only 15 at the time I returned later with my Dad.
After a rather protracted and heated discussion with the
owner, who was almost as dishevelled as his house, my Dad
eventually persuaded the man to let him in for a look.

A few minutes later he returned with Tango in his arms and
the owner of the house apologising profusely, saying " well
I thought I heard a cat, but I haven't got one so I ignored
it"

We've never been able to find out exactly how Tango got into
the house, and I've never again seen the furry friend who
took me to him, but I will always be thankful to that cat.

This article was witten by Rolf Lampo and first published in
The Purr Company's Monthly Mews-Letter. Sign up for free at
www.Purr4Cats.com - Purr blows Catnip out of the water!!
(c)Copyright The Purr Company.