SATIRE

The Neighbor’s Orange Tabby is Getting Very Old

He used to be so much smarter

Photo by Stephanie Moody on Unsplash

You might have read about people using talking buttons to help their dogs and cats communicate. Our neighbor was one who had amazing success using those with Donnie, his orange tabby.

Here's How to Teach Your Cat to 'Talk' with Buttons

You might not believe this — and I certainly didn’t until I saw it with my own eyes — but Donnie and his owner often have had fascinating conversations. As my neighbor realized how much Donnie understood and could say, he had to add more and more buttons. There are so many buttons in every room now that it can be challenging to walk through his house without stepping on one.

An amazing conversation

My neighbor invited me to witness a conversation with Donnie a few years ago. I stood in a cramped corner free of buttons while I was properly introduced to the quite plump Donnie. I immediately noticed the resemblance to a large framed picture of a beautiful and much thinner tabby relaxing on a lawn. I asked if that was Donnie. My neighbor whispered…