Animal Magnet

Yesterday evening, I went for a walk with my daughter. The route went along a horse farm. All the horses were out, grazing. As soon as they saw us, they trotted over. I figured they were looking for food. We didn't have any. Usually, when you don't have food, they go back to their business. Not this time. This time they wanted to nuzzle my hand and arm. I petted them while they acted like a bunch of dogs.

"They like you, Mom!" my daughter said.

 I shrugged and continued the walk. The horses followed. Eventually, we passed the farm. Not long after, we saw a little cat. It was a ways away, but as soon as it spotted us, it ran over. It must've thought I was its best friend, because it purred and snuggled up against me.

"Hello," I said. "You look hungry."  It was the skinniest little kitty I had seen. I thought it might be a stray.

"It wants to come home with you," said my daughter.

"We have enough animals. We're not bringing this little guy home."  I got up and walked down the sidewalk. The kitty followed, right next to me, just like a dog.

I stopped, and the kitty did more purring and snuggling. Clearly, this animal did not want me to leave.  "Maybe I can go home and bring it some food," I said. "I just don't want it to come home with us."

I walked on, and the kitty followed. I must've walked at least a quarter of a mile. That's when a car coming in the opposite direction stopped. "Snooky!" the lady inside called.

Snooky?

"That's my cat," the lady said.

She pulled into the driveway we had just passed. "Here, kitty, kitty, kitty," she called.

Snooky didn't want to go.

After a lot of coercion, Snooky finally went back to his mom.

"See, Mom," my daughter said. "You're an animal magnet. Animals love you!"