Kitty Crisis

I really hope Drew remembered to take out the trash last night, Kyle thought as he ran out of the house later that week. He and Rex were on their way to meet Drew at the dog park.

In just a few days, Drew’s dad would decide if Lucky would be allowed to stay or have to go. Drew and his dog couldn’t afford to make any more mistakes.

Kyle was in such a rush he almost didn’t see Mia. She was sitting on her porch steps with her face in her hands. Is she crying? he wondered.

“Mia?” Kyle called as he walked over. “What’s the matter?”

Mia looked up. “It’s Misty. She’s in big trouble. She pooped in my dad’s favorite chair,” she said. “And he sat on it.”

Kyle bit his lip so he wouldn’t laugh. It was funny, but it wasn’t funny.

“Then he yelled, ‘That cat is a nightmare!’” Mia wiped away a tear. “I’m really worried. What if Mom and Dad make me get rid of her?”

“They won’t,” Kyle said. He didn’t want to miss Lucky’s training session, but this was an emergency. “Maybe Misty is sick or something. Do you want to bring her to my mom’s clinic? Maybe she can take a look at her and figure out what’s wrong.”

Mia nodded. “Good idea,” she said. “Let me go get her.”

It took a while for Mia to load Misty into her cat carrier. Misty was not happy about it. The clinic waiting room was empty when Kyle and Mia walked in. Only Lillian sat behind the receptionist desk.

“Does my mom have a second to look at Misty?” Kyle asked. “We think something’s wrong with her.”

Lillian smiled at Mia. “We’ve always got time for Mia’s cat,” she said. “Go on back to one of the exam rooms.”

As they left the waiting room, Kyle realized Rex was following. His mom hadn’t given the dog permission to return, but Kyle didn’t want to leave Mia alone.

“Sit!” Kyle told Rex. He held up his hand. “Stay!”

Rex sat in the middle of the waiting room floor.

“Go on, Kyle,” Lillian said. “I’ll watch him.”

Kyle’s mom met them in the exam room. “What seems to be the problem with Misty today?” she asked.

“She’s just crankier than usual,” Mia said. “And she pooped in my dad’s chair. Kyle and I thought she might be sick.”

Misty hissed when Dr. Blake put her on the exam table. The vet tech held the cranky cat while Dr. Blake examined her.

“It could be that she’s sick,” Dr. Blake said. “Or in pain. Animals tend to act up when that’s the case.”

Misty tried to scratch Dr. Blake when she opened the cat’s mouth. “Ah, looks like we’ve found our problem,” she said. “Misty has an infected tooth.”

“Oh, it must be hurting her!” Mia exclaimed. “I should have figured that out. I feel terrible!”

“It’s not your fault, Mia,” Dr. Blake said. “Animals can’t tell us what’s wrong. We have to guess what’s going on with them and hope we get it right.”

“At least now you know that Misty had a good reason for being so bad,” Kyle said. “I bet your parents won’t be mad anymore.”

“Is she going to be okay?” Mia asked Dr. Blake.

“She’ll be fine,” Dr. Blake said, “but she should stay here tonight. I’ll give her medicine for the pain and the infection. Then tomorrow morning I’ll take out the bad tooth. She’ll be back to her old self in a few days.”

“Thanks, Dr. Blake,” Mia said. She gave Kyle’s mom a hug.

Kyle wanted to leave before his mom saw Rex in the clinic, but she followed them out to the waiting room. Rex was still sitting where Kyle had left him.

“He hasn’t moved a muscle,” Lillian said.

“Good dog,” Dr. Blake said with a smile. She reached out and patted Rex on the head.

Yes! Kyle thought happily. He grabbed Rex’s leash and hurried out before something could go wrong. He and Mia headed to the dog park, but by the time they got there, Drew and Lucky were already gone.