How I knew Gene Roddenberry had cats before I Googled it

Palm Coast Observer
Neighbors

The door from the house into the garage needs a new latch. I discovered this when I saw the door ajar as I pulled the car into its parking spot.

Tossing my things on the table I begin to count heads. Two dogs greeted me at the door, Kodi and Buddy, no Samantha the cat.

I begin the search for Samantha as irrational doubts invade my thoughts. She's an inside cat, but did her “wild side” lure her into the great unknown when the garage door went up?

I am 99 % sure she did not leave the house. Blasted 1 %.

I search, I call (she has been known to come when called, if she feels like it) – nothing. A systematic search of every room, her favorite places, window sills, my desk chair, the back of the couch – nothing. I even check the dryer – I read about a cat caught in a dryer once and ever since...well you cat owners understand.

She must be outside. I head to the door, glancing as I pass my office, to see Samantha curled on my burgundy leatherette chair. Her head tilted to one side as if to say, 'Looking for me?'” Please refer to second favorite place searched in the previous paragraph – my desk chair – and yet, there she is, and if I am to believe her, she has been there the entire time.

But she hasn't, I looked just moments before, and to get to my office she would have had to pass me or – teleport – as in “beam me up, Scotty.” (Yes, I know they never really said that in the series)

All cats display this skill, which is why, while I have no proof, I believe Mr. Roddenberry incorporated teleportation after watching his own cats. Apparently this was not part of the original show idea. They were going to land the Starship Enterprise like a bus every time they wanted to get off. Cumbersome to say the least – especially in the future.

There are times I suspect the teleportation doesn't work. In these situations Samantha tears down the hallway as though she is late for an appointment on the other side of the house. Maybe her “Scotty” is on his lunch break.”

Wait a minute, she has her own chief engineer?