Fort Lauderdale to Seattle, Bubba Part II
Guest blogging today is Kavita Varma-White, Sun-Sentinel assistant Lifestyle editor.
Update: Yesterday we heard about 18-year-old Bubba pending crosscountry journey from Fort Lauderdale to Seattle. Read it here.
I am sad to report that... Bubba has made it to Seattle!
Just kidding. In fact I don't think I've loved that cat more than I do today. (Could be because he is now 3,000 miles away.) He proved to be the trooper we knew he would be.
The kids and I took Brian and Bubba to Fort Lauderdale airport, where Brian checked in without incident. The airline didn't even ask for the required pet certificate he had paid the vet $75 to get. Our big concern was getting Bubba through security, as we were worried that he wouldn't come out of his softpack carrier without a (cat) fight.
With the security line pretty empty, Brian talked to a helpful TSA employee. "He's a mean cat and probably won't come out of the bag. Should I just put him through the x-ray machine?"
"You have to get him out of the bag," the TSA employee said, "Or you won't have a cat anymore." (Here I pause to wonder about all the times I have put food in my bags which are x-rayed; and then I give the food to my kids to eat.)
They led them to a side room that was quieter than the terminal, and Brian was able to extract Bubba, who shielded himself by keeping his head hidden in Brian's armpit. The bag was scanned and Bubba went back in. In was on to 'Catlanta', where fortunately the layover was short. Brian said Bubba seemed to prefer the airplane journey to the chaos of the terminal. Other than some soft meowing when they were about an hour from Seattle, he was quiet.
Once at the new house, Brian set up the litter box and Bubba went immediately. Considering he's 18, you've gotta acknowledge his impressive kidney function! He ate his food, drank water and proceeded to inspect every inch of the house. Apparently he slept on a perch in the master bedroom, where he had full view of Brian and the windows, where a gentle rain fell.
Welcome to the Pacific Northwest, Bubba.
ANGIE BRENNAN, a Sun-Sentinel page designer,
lives with four dogs and one boyfriend. And has a lifetime of animal stories to share.
DIANE LADE, a reporter on the Sun-Sentinel's Help Team, has lived with cats, dogs, reptiles, fish, an iguana, and an armadillo.
CYNDI METZGER, editor of the Sun-Sentinel's Outlook section, is smitten with Bella, her poodle who regularly ignores requests to sit, stay and get off the ivory-colored sofa. 
JOHN TANASYCHUK, a Sun-Sentinel lifestyle writer, has lived with cats as long as he can remember. He and his partner currently share their home with three.
