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InnerLight (original poster member #19946) posted at 4:19 AM on Friday, August 16th, 2013
I stepped outside this eve with a glass of wine to relax. I saw my cat and she was in such a strong hunting posture I almost didn't recognize her. I couldn't see what she was so intent on. I saw her move in, and looked over and saw a large rattlesnake staring her down, poised to strike and she was only 6 feet away.
I tried calling her and she refused to come and only inched closer to the snake. I didn't want to come to get her, she was too close. I've lived in rattlesnake country for 9 years but I have only seen one other and I don't know how they move. I wasn't sure I could grab her without it getting more agitated and biting me.
I called my neighbor and as I'm on the phone she moves within 3 feet of the snake.
I was calling her and calling her. The snake was raised high on its coiled hissing really loudly. My kitty was intent on pouncing, and i was thinking she is a goner. this is it for kitty!
Then she backed up, alarmed at the intensity of the snake. She came to me then and I picked her up from a safe distance. I was relieved to have her in my arms. My neighbor arrived with a flat shovel and came up behind the snake and got him. Chopped its head off.
It was a big fat snake and I counted the rattles. 7. It kept writhing without its head. Gruesome and fascinating.
Kitty is safe.
BS, 64 yearsD-day 6-2-08D after 20 years together
The journey from Armageddon to Amazing Life happens one step at a time. Don't ever give up!
nowiknow23 ( member #33226) posted at 4:24 AM on Friday, August 16th, 2013
((((kitty and IL))))
You can call me NIK
And never grow a wishbone, daughter, where your backbone ought to be.
― Sarah McMane
jo2love ( member #31528) posted at 4:26 AM on Friday, August 16th, 2013
ThoughtIKnewYa ( member #18449) posted at 5:03 AM on Friday, August 16th, 2013
I'm so glad she's OK!!
The snake can 'bite' for 24 hours or so after you've cut the head off. It's a reflex thing, so be very careful if you handle that part of it.
caregiver9000 ( member #28622) posted at 5:50 AM on Friday, August 16th, 2013
So glad for the happy ending!
I had a cat that cornered a copperhead in our garage. My dad killed that snake with a shovel. He buried the head, and let the kitty stalk the headless body after.
Me: fortysomething, independent, happy,
XH "Stretch" (and Skew!) ;)
two kids, teens. Old enough I am truly NO CONTACT w/ NPD zebraduck
S 5/2010
D 12/2012
heartbroken_kk ( member #22722) posted at 8:09 AM on Friday, August 16th, 2013
wow, so lucky your kitty finally came to her senses!
I had to decapitate a rattler outside the kitchen door a couple months ago. It was creepy having to do it. Gave me the heebie jeebies.
FBW then 46, XWHNPDPAFTG the destroyer of my entire life. D-Day 1 '99, D-Day 2,3,4,5,6... '09-'11, D '15. I fell apart. I put myself back together. Forgiveness isn't required. I'm happy and healthy now, and MY new life is good.
persevere ( member #31468) posted at 1:23 PM on Friday, August 16th, 2013
Wow! That gave me chills! So glad you are both okay! :-)
DDay:2011
Status: D 2011
Remarried to a kind and wonderful man - 2017
Above all, be the heroine, not the victim. - Nora Ephron
It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.
- J. K.
k94ever ( member #11176) posted at 2:01 PM on Friday, August 16th, 2013
And this is why I live so far North.
k9
BS:61
WS: 53
Betrayed: 24 years
Affairs: 15 (2 lasted 3 months. Rest were ONS)
WS died: 16 May 2011
Do not stay in your hurt forever. Choose to move out of it.
amitheow ( member #4691) posted at 2:03 PM on Friday, August 16th, 2013
OMG
That is a crazy story. I got the shivers. YUK YUK YUK!
Glad Kitty is safe.
Old Timer, Just here to help
My screen name is: Am I The Ow? - Not Ami the OW.
Because in my situation I didn't know if I was the OW at first or if I was being cheated on. Found I was being cheated on.
Take2 ( member #23890) posted at 2:17 PM on Friday, August 16th, 2013
Okay, Creepy!! Creepier still picturing a cat with a headless rattler! Yuck!
Glad Kitty is safe! And yay for good neighbors!!
"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us." Joseph Campbell...So, If fear was not a factor - what would you do?
tushnurse ( member #21101) posted at 3:37 PM on Friday, August 16th, 2013
Whew! Scary stuff.
We killed a copperhead in our Garage this week, it was quite possibly the largest one I have ever seen. YIKES!!
Me: FBSHim: FWSKids: 23 & 27 Married for 32 years now, was 16 at the time.D-Day Sept 26 2008R'd in about 2 years. Old Vet now.
nowiknow23 ( member #33226) posted at 3:47 PM on Friday, August 16th, 2013
And this is why I live so far North.
Amen, k9. Bring on the snow.
You can call me NIK
And never grow a wishbone, daughter, where your backbone ought to be.
― Sarah McMane
sad12008 ( member #18179) posted at 7:38 PM on Friday, August 16th, 2013
Holy cr*p! 
As if I needed another reason to be leery of going into our dark-along-the-walls garage at night, you all have convinced me to steer clear!
You can't fill a cup with no bottom.
InnerLight (original poster member #19946) posted at 3:53 PM on Saturday, August 17th, 2013
Rattlers are scary, but it was very restrained, and didn't strike even tho my cat was stalking it for an hour. I heard the hissing from inside my house but assumed it was my irrigation system. 
I am grateful that snakes eat mice and gophers.
The squirrel in my yard was acting crazy agitated the past few days and I couldn't understand why. I thought maybe it had rabies, but now I think it could see the rattlesnake and I couldn't.
I will pay more attention to squirrel language from now on.
I regret not trying to skin and cook the snake. It seems like a waste of good meat to have thrown it out. Next time....
BS, 64 yearsD-day 6-2-08D after 20 years together
The journey from Armageddon to Amazing Life happens one step at a time. Don't ever give up!
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