“Reg is an utter whirlwind of chaos!”
When Dr. Fiona Bowler decided to take in a second foster cat in March, she was excited to have another snuggle buddy like her first, Smudge. She’d hoped her new foster, Reginald, would settle in nicely and enjoy the cozy tranquility of his temporary home just like Smudge had. But Reginald had other plans.
Almost immediately after the black-and-white cat entered the house, he started getting into unprecedented trouble.
“The first night, he knocked over and broke the cat camera we’d set up overnight to keep an eye on him,” Bowler told The Dodo. “From there, his crime spree really started.”
Unlike Smudge, Reginald wasn’t interested in taking naps around the house. Instead, he was determined to destroy it in every way possible. His initial crimes involved his water dish, which he used as a splash pad.
“He splashes in his water bowl, knocks it over, sits in it and then drips it all over the floor,” Bowler said. “It’s hilarious to watch, but not so fun when you have to follow him around with a towel at all hours of the day and night.”
Bowler soon learned that fostering Reginald wouldn’t be as peaceful as with Smudge. She quickly adapted to the destruction and started catching him in the middle of a new crime every day.
“I looked around one morning to find him hanging out of the pocket of my coat, which was hanging up, looking like he was trying to pickpocket it,” Bowler said. “He scales the oven to pull the tea towels and oven gloves down, will paw at clothes on the airer to knock them off and drags towels off the radiator.”
Reginald’s crime spree only escalated in the weeks following his arrival. He eventually started stealing items from around the house — like scissors and empty egg cartons — and bringing them to his bed for a snuggle. He learned how to open doors, drawers and, to the Bowlers’ displeasure, sink faucets.
“His most shocking crime was definitely turning the kitchen tap on overnight and nearly flooding our kitchen,” Bowler said. “I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at that. Reg was entirely unabashed.”
Thankfully, Reginald’s foster parents caught his most destructive act before any serious damage was done. While the Bowlers recovered from the panic, Reginald sauntered away to another part of the house, proud of his crime and ready to commit another.
“Compared to Smudge, Reg is an utter whirlwind of chaos!” Bowler said. “He’s a tiny crime lord.”
Reginald keeps his foster mom on her toes each day, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
He’ll be ready for adoption through Southampton Cats Protection in a few weeks, and Bowler hopes the charismatic boy will find the perfect family: one that is loving and understanding of his needs.
“Despite his criminal background, he’s also extremely friendly and loving,” Bowler said. “He’ll be an incredible companion to someone with the time (and patience) to dedicate to him!”
Bowler looks forward to seeing her beloved crime lord settle into his future forever home one day. Until then, she’ll keep managing his chaos one hilarious emergency at a time.
“Having Reg has made everything about 50 percent more chaotic and 100 percent more fun,” Bowler said.
