“He doesn’t look stuck to me,” EJ pointed at the cat walking confidently down toward them.
“Not now!” Hudson threw his hands up in frustration. “But he was so high!”
The cat crouched just above his head and Hudson reached out and grabbed him.
The cat howled before freezing in his hand.
“It’s okay, buddy.” Hudson brought his new friend up to his face. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
The feline rumbled then did the strangest thing. He licked Hudson’s chin. Maybe he was grateful to Hudson after all?
“No collar,” Hudson told EJ.
The cat started to rub under his chin, across his chest, before trying to get inside Hudson’s shirt.
“Oh!” Hudson managed as he fought to keep the cat from his shirt collar. The cat’s rumble grew. There was no way thatclassified as a purr. If this was a bigger cat like a jaguar or cougar, Hudson would expect the sound but not this little thing.
“Looks like he likes you.” EJ smacked Hudson’s shoulder as he laughed.
While not heavy, it was awkward holding the feline when it was determined that he wanted Hudson’s clothes. “Hey, buddy.” Hudson shifted the feline onto its back to cradle it against his chest.
“It’s a boy!” EJ announced. “Congratulations!”
Hudson shook his head at EJ’s teasing.
The cat’s brown eyes flicked from Hudson to EJ and back.
“It’s okay. No one is going to hurt you. But I can’t just let you go up the tree again. Do you have a home?”
“If that thing answers you, I’m out of here,” EJ joked.
“What do I do?” Hudson questioned.
“Take him to the vet. Surely they’d know what to do. It’s not like there are a lot of strays around here. He must belong to someone,” EJ suggested.
For some reason Hudson hated the thought of his new friend being stuck in a cage as they looked for his owner. He rubbed the feline’s stomach as he thought over his options. Carter might not mind if Hudson brought the little one home. At least until they could ask around or maybe put out flyers or something.
The cat threw his head back as Hudson continued to pet his stomach.
“You’re not taking him to the vet, are you?” EJ questioned.
“What if he gets scared there?” Hudson asked.
EJ sighed.
“I won’t keep him! Just take him home until we find his owner,” Hudson said.
“Both you and Carter work a lot,” EJ pointed out.
He worked shifts so he was on for two days and off the three after. But his brother worked either day or night. Carter at least went home every day. Was it fair to his brother to force him to take care of this cat when Hudson was at the fire station? Probably not. Hudson’s shoulders slumped.
The cat caught Hudson’s hand between his paws.
“I don’t know what to do with you, buddy,” Hudson admitted.
Lifting his head, the cat licked Hudson’s cheek, drawing a smile from him. This sweet little thing didn’t deserve to be abandoned. When Hudson found the owner, he was going to give them a very serious talking-to.
“Bas!”
