Here, Kitty, Kitty!

Can Cats Eat Sugar?

A soft tune comes from the speaker above me, being only slightly overpowered by the sound of the broom against the floor. The place had closed for the day over two hours ago and I'm only now getting around to finishing up, not that I really mind. I enjoy the end-of-day clean-up routine. It's nice to take my time doing something after a day of running around trying to take orders and bake at the same time, even if it's all still just work.

I reach over the table I've been absentmindedly wiping down to clean the other side. The action is enough to pull my attention just enough to cause the broom to fall to the floor. I can't help but sigh at my once again failed attempt at multitasking. With my mood now thoroughly dampened I finish up with the table and take a look around the empty cafe.

The sight of the broom lying motionless on the floor is a painful reminder of just how little stamina I have. Most people would be able to easily manage something as simple as cleaning two things at once but I can barely manage it. With a sigh I hold out my hand and focus on calling the broom to me, it floats effortlessly off the floor and moves close enough to my hand for me to grab. At least something like this isn't a struggle.

I turn back to the table and make the decision that I've done enough work for the day, picking up the washcloth I was using to clean it and dropping it into the dirty water bucket below. My gaze floats up to the street outside the window just long enough for me to see how dark it is. The thought crosses my mind to leave taking today's trash to the dumpster for tomorrow, but I let it pass since I feel that'll put me at a whole new level of laziness.

With a sigh I turn away from the window and pick up the water bucket before walking to the back, pushing open the doors to enter the kitchen. I made a beeline for the sink to pour out the bucket, taking the time to wipe it out and rinse the cloth before walking over and setting everything in the storage closet.

With that, all that's left is to take out the trash. The majority of it is whatever I had put in the display case this morning and managed to sit there all day, most of which still hasn't gone stale. I lift the bag up over my shoulder, slightly swaying at the weight of it before opening the door. The cool air makes me shiver before I even set foot outside, I probably should've grabbed a jacket.

I step out of the doorway and into the back alley, giving the area a tentative glance around before walking down towards the dumpster. I hear the familiar sound of something rummaging through the trash as I approach, I pause for a moment but force myself to continue on. It's probably just a possum or something like that, they're everywhere lately.

My anxiety reaches its peak when I finally reach the dumpster, the rustling having yet to calm down any. I take slow steps forward but stop completely when the rustling suddenly cuts off. I prepare myself for whatever's in there to jump out, for some rabid raccoon or something like it to start chasing me down the street and back inside. What hops out of the dumpster, landing perfectly on its rim, is a cat. It jumps down from its perch to land on the ground and begins grooming the dirt out of its cream-colored coat.

I breathe out a sigh at the sight, letting the tension leave my body while accidentally catching the cat's attention. Its head whips in my direction as it begins to step backward. I slowly place the trash bag on the ground and extend my hand in the cat's direction. "Here, kitty, kitty, kitty." The cat raises its head and sniffs the air, probably picking up on the sweet smell still clinging to my apron.

Slowly the cat inches forward, taking cautious steps until its nose is almost touching my hand. I hold my breath as I wait for a reaction. It sniffs my hand again before closing the gap and pushing its head into my hand. Taking that as permission I let my hand run down the cat's body to feel its surprisingly clean fur. The cat leans into the touch as it meows and stares up at me with light blue eyes.

I've never been so close to a regular cat before. Sure, familiars come into the cafe all the time but I've heard they're different from regulars. I scratch under the cat's chin and try to focus on the way it pushes itself closer to me. Even from this close, it's hard to tell the difference, If I didn't know any better I'd think I'm petting a familiar. My hand cards through the slightly thick layer of fur as the cat begins to move away, for a moment I think they'll leave but they only go far enough to reach the trash bag I had brought. I watch as they sniff curiously at the bag, reminding me of the display sweets I had half-haphazardly thrown into it.

I reach over and pull open the bag, revealing the random assortment of partially broken and crumbled-up cookies. Reaching in, I pull out half of a Melonpan and begin looking it over. There's no chocolate in these so it should be safe to give one to them, right? Or does that only apply to dogs? Can cats even have sugar? I peek down at the cat hoping they'll have the answers but I'm only met with pleading eyes. Just one can't hurt, I'm sure they've eaten worse out of that dumpster. I lower the bun so the cat can take it, they give it a few sniffs before hesitantly taking a bite.

The cat continues to take small bites of the bun instead of taking it from me, leaving me to hold the bun while it does so. I let my other hand come around to run my hands through the cat's fur, smiling at the cat's continued enjoyment of my affection. The cat finishes off the bun after about two minutes and meows for another, I'm about to reach into the bag to get another when a much less pleased meow comes from over by the dumpster.

I can't tell exactly what it looks like but I can just make out the flipping of its tail and the small pair of bronze eyes glaring at me from the cat's place up on the dumpster. The cat closest to me turns in the others direction and begins meowing and pawing at the ground, leaving me a bit confused about what's going on. The bronze-eyed cat hisses in return before letting out another angry and drawn-out meow that I'm not sure whether it's directed at me or the cat by my feet.

Not wanting to have to find out I pull my hand away from the cat, only for them to walk off towards the dumpsters themselves. Our separation seems to be enough to make the larger of the two calm itself down, the silhouette of its tail pausing in its movements. The cat's eyes follow the other as it approaches, jumping down from its perch so the two could meet at the base of the dumpster. I can barely make out the soft meows the two exchange before they both run out of the alley, the one I'd been petting only sparing me a glance before running off.

I slowly stand from my spot on the ground and collect the bag of trash. Even though at this point I really just felt like tossing the bag by the back door and dealing with it in the morning, I'd hate to be called lazy by Hina, especially since it would be the third time this week, if she shows up before I manage to get to it. I sigh as I heft the bag back over my shoulder and continue taking quick steps toward the dumpster, intent on just getting the night over with.