We had a big problem last night

@mcat19 (1357)
United States
July 17, 2009 10:45am CST
One of our cats, Paisley, was very interested in a huge mirror on the wall. She was on a table, on her back legs, trying to see behind it. My roommate looked. A bat was there. We were debating what to do when it flew out from behind the mirror and took off around the house. The main floor of this house has no doors, so we couldn't close it off. We grabbed the cats and got them upstairs without being torn to shreds by Peaches-don't-touch-me. Meanwhile the bat disappeared. We were chasing it with a leaf rake because we couldn't find the net, but we just kept if flying. We had no idea where it went. My roommate was wearing underpants on her head because she thought it would get into her hair. I left all the lights on downstairs and finally went to bed at 4AM. This morning I fed the cats who were still confined and went to call the bug guy to see what they'd suggest. We had already been told to open all the doors. That wasn't such a great idea. I figured that besides the insects who would come in, we would get possums, raccoons, foxes and other wildlife. As I was on the phone telling the bug guys secretary that we had a bat lose in the house and didn't know where it was, I turned around. There he was, clutching the window shade right in back of me. I got a plastic container and piece of cardboard. I put the container over him, slid the cardboard under him and took him outside. I feel a lot better without him in the house. I like bats -- OUTSIDE.
2 people like this
5 responses
17 Jul 09
Hi mcat19, Oh that is so funny your roomie with her pants on her head, whooppee!!!, yes bats can be difficult, I had one flying in my front room a few years back and I mange to get it and put it in a box, thought it was hurt as my cat brought it in but next day he has gone from the open window, thanks. Tamara
@mcat19 (1357)
• United States
17 Jul 09
I am very grateful to Paisley who alerted us to the bat in the first place. Unfortunately, we lost track of it while getting the cats to a safe place. Bats belong outside, not in the house. My roommate was afraid she'd have to wear the panties on her head all day long. I saved her from that.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jul 09
wow-i don't know what my cats would do about that we've never had a bat get in the house,but a few clumsy birds have fallen down the chimney.we had 6 cats the one time one fell,and i barely rescued it to release.
• United States
19 Jul 09
yea,i imagine.mine would probably be quite vocal about it.
@mcat19 (1357)
• United States
18 Jul 09
The cats enjoyed watching it zoom around. They did not enjoy being rounded up and confined to rooms with doors.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63252)
• United States
18 Jul 09
I did something similar in college. A bat got into the dorm on my floor. There were girls opening their doors, screaming and slamming them again. There was one girl telling others to just stay in their rooms. I came out, told her to go down to the lobby and tell people not to come up to this floor so the elevator wouldn't offer the bat another place to go. I then turned out the lights on the floor and once it was dark and quiet, the bat settled down on the ceiling. An upper classman came out of her room and offered her tall hamper to catch it - if I did the catching. That was fine with me, so I put the hamper over it on the ceiling. Then she offered her art board, if I'd do the sliding. Now, I'm 5' nothing, she held the hamper while I stood on a table to slide the board over. We lowered it, then carried it to the window and she shoved it out as I pulled the board out of the way. Then, as you might've guessed, I had to look in the hamper to make sure the bat was gone! And ALL I got out of the adventure was a good story... Oh, and tell your roommate that they don't want to get tangled in her hair any more than she wants it to happen
@mcat19 (1357)
• United States
18 Jul 09
She doesn't believe me that they don't want to go into your hair. I told her many times. I'm just glad I got it out of here. I love animals, but outside ones should stay outside.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63252)
• United States
18 Jul 09
here's some causal reading for your roommate.... http://www.batcon.org/
24 Jul 09
awwww bless :) well i am so glad you didnt hurt the poor thing, it probably wanted to get outside as much as you wanted it too. i used to get alot of bats flying around my old flat, i think they are lovely little creatures i would just sit on the outside steps some night and just watch them.
@ticuso (127)
• Mexico
18 Jul 09
Wow! where pray tell do you live? no doors on the main floor? what kind of a house is this? sounds spooky! and bats flying around, sounds like a good plot for a good novel, so are the kiddies ok?
@mcat19 (1357)
• United States
18 Jul 09
The cats are pretty much fine, except Peaches-don't-touch-me was upset and peed on the rug to express her anxiety. The downstairs has arches and openings, no doors to close. I live in the foothills of the Shenandoah Mountains, in the woods. The house if fine if bats don't need to be confined. Just one bat, one time. So far.