I never understood my mom’s love of cats. It was as if her life depended on these furry creatures to save her life. It wasn’t until much later that I realized why.  My mom practiced Felidomancy, which is the ability to predict the future by observing a cat’s behavior. This is how the cat foretold the arrival of two humps. 

My mom’s family, the Millers, lived on Phoenix Avenue in Elmira, New York, near the Chemung River on the southern tier of New York State. In 1946 after torrential rains, the river soaked banks near Dunn Field had expanded to the surrounding neighborhood. When they evacuated, her cat had to stay behind not being allowed onto the boat.  She still recalls how crushed she felt leaving her feline behind. What if the cat didn’t survive?

The cat told of the oncoming rain that caused the flood. 

Since cats don’t sneeze often, its continual sneezing must have been a curious thing. This unusual behavior would be overlooked by most, but my mom took note and realized there would be a lot of rain. A sneezing cat predicts rain for those of you who don’t understand Felidomancy. Her cat predicted the surplus of rain that would cause the flood of 1946, but what happened next was most perplexing to even the best-trained Felidomancy observers. 

If you ever had a cat you know that at times they consume grass. It’s believed that cats do this when they have an upset stomach. Afterwards, the cat vomits. It’s really not a big deal; it’s very typical. But suddenly my Mom’s cat started consuming large amounts of grass, like she was a lawnmower. Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but its herbivore appetite was not at all typical for a carnivorous feline and my mom took note of that, too.     

Twice in a row the cat would stretch and arch its back on a regular basis, something of which it didn’t do before so my mom began to understand that the number two was significant. The seven-toed cat was also a hint; those two extra toes on each foot was another sign. Even those that practice Felidomancy regularly would have trouble in understanding this prophecy, which would be a stretch for any imagination, but my mom started to grasp the significance. 

Then came the day she’ll never forget. My grandfather, Arthur Miller, could not have imagined the memory he was creating for his family’s legacy. This story would be passed onto generations that would never know him personally, but would know of him for what he brought home.  

To read the complete story, you can purchase the book “Hometown Memories” by calling 1-877-491-8802.