Not Miss Poppyseed

David walked proudly through his front door, holding a black-and-white cat he had found in the alley, a smile radiating across his face. “I found Miss Poppyseed,” he announced triumphantly.

His family all raised their heads, their eyes scanning the scraggly feline.

“That's not Poppyseed,” his son, Dan, said before returning his attention to his tablet.

David lowered the creature and spun it around, holding its face inches from his own. The cat stared back at him, its eyes narrowed and its ears flattened, as though it already regretted coming inside.

“Of course it is,” David said, gently placing it on the floor.

His wife, Maria, approached for a closer look. “It looks similar, but the black spot on its side is different. Poppyseed's was more rounded.”

David squinted, taking a closer look. “No, that's how she's always looked.” He patted the scraggly cat on the back and walked past it. “I'm so happy she's home. I don't know what I would have done if we had never found her.”

Maria wanted to tell her husband the truth, but the words would not come out. It had been hard on David when his cat disappeared a week ago. Even though she knew this was not going to end well, it was nice to see him smiling again. “I'm glad you found her,” she finally said.

“Miss Poppyseed is probably starving.” David glanced back at the confused animal. “Let's get you your favourite treat.”

He made his way to the kitchen as he had so many times before, but when he turned around, he was surprised to see that Miss Poppyseed had not followed him. “Girl, come here. Pss-pss.”

The cat did not move. Instead, it sat down, its eyes wandering around the room.

“That's not Poppyseed,” Dan said again.

David chose to ignore his son's comment and walked back into the living room, picking up his new friend. To his surprise, his beloved Miss Poppyseed let out a bloodthirsty shriek and swung its claws through the air, catching David across the cheek. He dropped the cat and grabbed his face, feeling the warmth of blood on his fingers.

Maria and Dan fell silent, waiting for David's next move.

“Are you okay, Miss Poppyseed?” David asked. “I'm so sorry I dropped you.”

The cat sat on the floor, licking its front paw, seemingly uninterested in his apology.

“I thought Poppyseed was declawed,” Dan said.

David didn't answer for a moment, thinking. “I guess her nails grew back.”

“That can happen?”

“Of course,” David replied casually. “And after spending a week outside in the cold, no wonder she's acting differently.”

He picked the cat up again. This time, it surrendered, allowing him to carry it into the kitchen.

Dan looked up at his mother. “That's not Poppyseed.”

Maria's eyes softened as she released a gentle sigh. “I know.” She watched her husband working away in the kitchen, preparing a saucer of milk, the familiar gleam returning to his eyes. “Let's just let your dad have this moment. I'll tell him tomorrow.”

That night, Miss Poppyseed did not join David at his side as she had every night for the last decade. Instead, she stood at the front door, howling into the darkness.

Dan slept with his pillow over his ears, while Maria spent most of the night fidgeting with her fingers, trying to think of the best way to break the news to her husband. David, on the other hand, slept soundly, knowing his Miss Poppyseed was finally home safe.

The next morning, the family came downstairs to a horrific scene.

Maria screamed and covered her mouth, while Dan let out a curse word his parents had never heard him say before. David, too, stood in shock.

The living room had been completely destroyed. The couch was torn to pieces, urine stains and fecal matter were scattered across the carpet, and the drapes had been pulled down. The legs of the coffee table looked as though a beaver had chewed on them. Dan covered his nose with his shirt, trying to block out the smell.

“Miss Poppyseed!” David exclaimed. “What has gotten into you?”

The cat stood in the corner, its displeased expression fixed on the family, its eyes narrowed into a scowl.

David attempted to pick it up, but once again, its claws came out. It hissed and swiped at him, narrowly missing his face. Prepared this time for a possible attack, David quickly jumped back, avoiding another injury.

“That's not Poppyseed,” Dan said.

“Of course it is,” David replied. “She just had a rough night downstairs. It's my fault I didn't come and get her.”

“No,” Maria snapped. “That's not Poppyseed.” She turned to her husband. “I know you're upset that she ran away, but it happens. You did nothing wrong.”

“You're both insane. I can't believe you don't recognize your own cat.”

David grabbed the feline by the scruff of its neck, holding it at a safe distance.

“I want that cat out of my house,” Maria said sternly, pointing toward the front door.

“I can't believe what I'm hearing. We got lucky she found her way home at all.”

“That's not Miss Poppyseed. It's some alley cat you've kidnapped. It doesn't want to be here!” Maria swung the front door open, keeping her eyes fixed on David. “I want it out of my home!”

David fell silent, his eyes fixed on the entrance. Standing there, casually licking its paws, was a very similar-looking cat. But this one had a perfectly round black spot above its hind leg.

“Miss Poppyseed?” David asked.

Maria spun around as Dan stepped closer.

David looked down at the cat in his grip, then back toward the doorway. “I don't think this is Miss Poppyseed.”

Dan rolled his eyes as the real Miss Poppyseed strolled through the front door as though she had never been gone. She brushed against David's leg before making her way toward the kitchen.

The family stood silently, watching as Miss Poppyseed carried on as though she hadn't been missing for the last seven days.

Maria finally broke the silence. “Get that cat out of my house,” she demanded.

David, accepting that he had made a mistake, placed the cat down on the front steps. It turned around, its eyes crossed as it stared back inside the house. “Sorry for the mistake,” David said, closing the door.

“No,” Dan said, pushing his way between his parents. “It's going to snow tonight. It'll freeze to death!” He scooped the cat up. Surprisingly, it snuggled into his arms.

Maria looked at her husband. “We can't let it die.”

“What about our house?” David asked.

“I'll train her to be better,” Dan jumped in. “I promise.”

“What are we going to name it?” Maria asked.

Dan glanced down at the animal. “How about Not Miss Poppyseed?”

Maria shook her head, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

David picked up Miss Poppyseed as she began to purr in his arms, while Dan found a brush and started cleaning the other cat's messy fur.

Maria watched the two of them before finally breaking into laughter.

Two cats. One Miss Poppyseed, and the other Not Miss Poppyseed.