First (And Last) Visit (Limerick)

First (And Last) Visit (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane

I’m allergic to felines; I sneeze 
And I tear when they’re near—then I wheeze. 
So I wish you had warned 
That your house is adorned 
With a half-hundred cats (Siamese).

Author’s Note: This limerick is based on personal experience. Many years ago, a composer asked my chamber ensemble to rehearse at her home, so she could record a work of hers that we were getting ready to debut. I’d barely taken my oboe out of its case, when I started having trouble breathing.  My attack got very bad, very quickly, and I was forced to leave without rehearsing. 

I later learned that our host’s hobby was breeding cats, and that her house was packed with them. Since I’m very allergic to cats, this would have been a good thing to have been warned about. 

(You can find more of my pets and animals humor here and more of my health humor here.

UPDATE: Happy National Cat Day! (October 29th)

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18 Responses to “First (And Last) Visit (Limerick)”

  1. Daniel E. Friedman says:

    I liked the story and I’m glad you survived the allergy attack. I guess composers who own no cats are a good combination for you. Keep posting!

  2. Shephard says:

    Very fun!
    Spookily enough… my post today for 3WW is about a certain cat.
    ~S :)

  3. paisley says:

    what a dreadful allergy to have.. i have 2 dogs and one cat,, and i cannot imagine life without beasties…..

  4. madkane says:

    Thanks for all your comments. Odd coincidence, Shephard. I enjoyed your cat poem as well. Paisley, fortunately I’m not allergic to dogs!

  5. Jo says:

    Also horribly allergic to cats too……and they always make straight for me. Sorry you missed out and I like the limerick!

  6. Pauline says:

    your limericks never fail to make me chuckle.

  7. Your limericks are the only ones I read and re-read.

  8. sister AE says:

    Now you’ve gone and made my nose itch! And I’m not even allergic to critters…

  9. Alan Bender says:

    I like it . I have never been fond of felines–Pompeii is a good place for them.

  10. Rambler says:

    Funny :), sometimes I tell my friends to warn the pets, they are allergetic to me :)

  11. Tumblewords says:

    Whew. Glad you survived… I know two couples, one in each set has dander allergy, who have cats and dogs. Stranger than fiction.

  12. Amey says:

    Haha… that was hilarious… and intentionally hilarious, and hence, very good :)

  13. annieelf says:

    What a sorry allergy to have to watch out for. Sadly, I could never have you over since there is always a cat or two around here. Somehow they always seem to find us.

  14. It’s true! All cat houses should carry a warning!

  15. Dennis says:

    Gesundheit!

  16. It’s a good thing we are not allergic to kitty cats here! It certainly would have been a good thing to warn one about.

    Happy Week to you! We are standing far back, since we are nine!

  17. madkane says:

    Thanks everybody for your lovely comments!