Arrrggh!!

In article <JpidnRI1G-uH_h_VnZ2dnUVZ_s_inZ2d.DeleteThis@earthlink.com>,
"m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage]"
<"m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage]"@earthlink.net> wrote:

> victoreia wrote:
>
> > On 7/17/2008 7:49 AM, Kat Hein wrote:
> > [snip of impromptu cat toys]
> >
> >> .... (stolen from my stash)ponytail holders are the best kitty toys EVER
> >
> >
> > [shudder] I'm *so* glad I'm in the habit of putting those _away_ in a
> > drawer. Otherwise, I'd be scooping them out of the
> > litterbox.......suitably encased, of course. Kyuri will eat practically
> > anything string-y, and those fit the bill. (Don't ask about the
> > poly-something ribbon-on-a-wand toy he ate, or the twine he discovered
> > _in the depths of my closet_....the two-plus feet of which he took four
> > days to pass through his system.....)
>
> Um.
>
> I know a cat who managed to consume most of an area rug by pulling it
> apart into string and... well. Am told it took hours and hours of
> unhappiness at the vet's to extract the rug and keep the cat alive.
> (But the cat did live for years afterward, and the owners now have a
> good story.)

And hardwood floors?

--
Don Bruder - dakidd.DeleteThis@sonic.net - If your "From:" address isn't on my whitelist,
or the subject of the message doesn't contain the exact text "PopperAndShadow"
somewhere, any message sent to this address will go in the garbage without my
ever knowing it arrived. Sorry... <http://www.sonic.net/~dakidd> for more info
 >> Stay informed about: Arrrggh!! 

Anne Elizabeth Baldwin wrote:
> "Bookwyrm" <Bookwyrm RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:487f8d95$1@news.bnb-lp.com...
>> Kat Hein wrote:
>>
>>> Easier with dog toys than with cat toys. Or at least with what cats
>>> consider toys. The ring off the milk jug and (stolen from my
>>> stash)ponytail holders are the best kitty toys EVER, and Christopher
>>> likes to remind us how easily they slip under the scale. Usually at
>>> about 3 AM when he's rattling it, trying to retrieve one. When I move
>>> it to clean the bathroom floor, there are always 2 or 3 under it. I
>>> don't want to think about how many are probably under the stove and
>>> refrigerator. *GGG*
>>>
>> Older Son & DIL figure that there are likely a minimum of 12 of those
>> little stuffed 'mice' under the refrigerator.
>> And they'd love to figure out why one of their cats will only play with
>> *red* mice.
>
> Because he likes black? {Smile}
>
> {GRIN} Dad had an article about color vision that claimed that cats see
> colors as either yellow or purple. Yellow, green, and maybe some orange all
> look yellow. Blue and purple look purple. Red is beyond the range, so it
> looks black. {Smile}
>

But this doesn't explain why Christopher will ignore the red suitcases
in favor for a black or navy one. He'll only sleep on a red one if it's
the only one available to him.


I think Scientists make up a good half of what they say. *GGG*


Kat
 >> Stay informed about: Arrrggh!! 

m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage] wrote:
g. Dunno where they had been... but
> they were in the trash later that day.
>
> <snip>
>>> Is the fridge on wheels? Some are. The stove... yeah, just don't
>>> think about it.
>>
>> Fridges are often quite heavy. Even if they're on wheels they can
>> be hard to move. {resigned smile}
>
> Ah, but Kat is married. Moving heavy objects is what husbands are for!
>

Yes, that, killing bugs,lifting things from high places, and getting up
to investigate weird noises in the middle of the night. They really are
handy creatures to keep around. *G*

Kat
 >> Stay informed about: Arrrggh!! 

Anne Elizabeth Baldwin wrote:
> "Kat Hein" <katenigma00.DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:PCLfk.33272$ZE5.3313@nlpi061.nbdc.sbc.com...
>> m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage] wrote:
>>> Anne Elizabeth Baldwin wrote:
>>>
>>>> <"m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage]"@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>>>>> Anne Elizabeth Baldwin wrote:
>>> [snip of the universal bibliophile black hole]
>>>>>>> I have also, occasionally, stashed fatter textbooks underneath
>>>>>>> furniture, as "dog toy rolling into inaccessible spot" prevention
>>>>>>> tools.
>>>>>> {SMILE} We've decided it's better to use a block of wood to block
>>>>>> kitty-toy traps. It can be cut to length. Plus, we don't have to
>>>>>> worry about a toy rolling under and getting stuck the one time we
>>>>>> need to look
>>>>>> up something in a book. {SMILE}
>>>>> At the time I started stashing, I lived in an apartment. No reason to
>>>>> have blocks of wood of any type handy, but plenty of textbooks.
>> We are still using a piece of styrofoam from a microwave packaging to
>> prevent the Roomba from going under the TV stand and getting caught up in
>> the wires. (The invisible walls are good for keeping it in the room, but
>> not so good for that)
>
> That Roomba is beginning to sound complicated. {Smile}
>

Not really, it just gets stuck sometimes. And a tangle of cables is
pretty much guaranteed to do it. Then it sings at you until you come to
unstick it.


><snip>
>>
>> Easier with dog toys than with cat toys. Or at least with what cats
>> consider toys. The ring off the milk jug and (stolen from my
>> stash)ponytail holders are the best kitty toys EVER, and Christopher
>> likes to remind us how easily they slip under the scale.
>
> I bet those scoot really well when you bat at them. {SMILE}

Oh yes, they practically fly across the floor when you bat at them.
There's no need to spend money on real cat toys with this bunch.

>
>> Usually at about 3 AM when he's rattling it, trying to retrieve one.
>> When I move it to clean the bathroom floor, there are always 2 or 3 under
>> it. I don't want to think about how many are probably under the stove
>> and refrigerator. *GGG*
>
> {Chuckle} That is a problem, particularly if you want the pony tail
> holders {BIG SMILE, wink, REALLY BIG GRIN}
>

Exactly. And he's normally a lazy cat who doesn't like to climb or jump,
but if he spots a ponytail holder, he will climb for it. He's also not
too bright- he'll try to steal it out of my hand if I take it out of my
hair and am holding it . But he doesn't chew on them or otherwise hurt
them, so at least I know where to look when I can't find any where they
belong.

Kat
 >> Stay informed about: Arrrggh!! 

Don Bruder wrote:
> In article <JpidnRI1G-uH_h_VnZ2dnUVZ_s_inZ2d.DeleteThis@earthlink.com>,
> <"m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage]"@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>>victoreia wrote:
<snip of cat stories>
>>>[shudder] I'm *so* glad I'm in the habit of putting those _away_ in a
>>>drawer. Otherwise, I'd be scooping them out of the
>>>litterbox.......suitably encased, of course. Kyuri will eat practically
>>>anything string-y, and those fit the bill. (Don't ask about the
>>>poly-something ribbon-on-a-wand toy he ate, or the twine he discovered
>>>_in the depths of my closet_....the two-plus feet of which he took four
>>>days to pass through his system.....)
>>
>>Um.
>>
>>I know a cat who managed to consume most of an area rug by pulling it
>>apart into string and... well. Am told it took hours and hours of
>>unhappiness at the vet's to extract the rug and keep the cat alive.
>>(But the cat did live for years afterward, and the owners now have a
>>good story.)
>
> And hardwood floors?

As of... oh, about a week ago, they have two small children. In one
case, about as small as kids get. (New to the world!)

So they have wall to wall carpeting.

In any case, while the rug-eating cat survived that experience, he did
eventually die of old age. He ate it all in one long string -- no,
only about a third of it. That's the point at which a human came home.

--
Megan
Journeyperson Dancing Barbarian
Keeper o' the FAQ: http://home.earthlink.net/~m_thomas3/abml/
 >> Stay informed about: Arrrggh!! 

John Oliver wrote:

> On Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:14:23 -0700, "m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage]"
> <"m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage]"@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>>>>I'm considering one of the cans with lids for my bedroom. Silly small
>>>>boy has developed a new hobby -- emptying stuff out of the bedroom
>>>>trash. Mostly tissues and the contents of the Roomba's vacuuming bin
>>>>-- not stuff I want back out on the floor again!
>
> My neighbor's cat tends to sneak into my kitchen and knock the can
> with metal lid and pedals over, then she digs through it.

A cat that goes to the neighbor's house to knock over the trash...
well, I suppose that keeps the cat more popular at home...

What cheek!

--
Megan
Journeyperson Dancing Barbarian
Keeper o' the FAQ: http://home.earthlink.net/~m_thomas3/abml/
 >> Stay informed about: Arrrggh!! 

"Kat Hein" <katenigma00 RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:RkYfk.15710$uE5.7349@flpi144.ffdc.sbc.com...
> Bookwyrm wrote:
>> Kat Hein wrote:
>>
>>> Easier with dog toys than with cat toys. Or at least with what cats
>>> consider toys. The ring off the milk jug and (stolen from my
>>> stash)ponytail holders are the best kitty toys EVER, and Christopher
>>> likes to remind us how easily they slip under the scale. Usually at
>>> about 3 AM when he's rattling it, trying to retrieve one. When I move
>>> it to clean the bathroom floor, there are always 2 or 3 under it. I
>>> don't want to think about how many are probably under the stove and
>>> refrigerator. *GGG*
>>>
>>
>> Older Son & DIL figure that there are likely a minimum of 12 of those
>> little stuffed 'mice' under the refrigerator.
>> And they'd love to figure out why one of their cats will only play with
>> *red* mice.
>>
>> I just have a dog that *loves* squeaky toys. And, after an hour or so
>> of constant playing with each new squeaky, *loves* to rip it apart and
>> de-squeak it.
>> Then pull out all the stuffings (if such exist).
>>
>> 'wyrm
>
>
> My parents always de-squeak the toys before they are given to the dogs.
> They have 4, and the ONLY thing that will cause dog fights in the living
> room is a squeaky toy.

{sigh} Then de-squeaking sounds like a very good idea. {Smile}

> For years, my now departed Cocker Spaniel went through a series of (the
> old 80's toy) "pound purries" that we picked up at flea markets on the
> cheap. They seemed to last longer than "dog toys" He would pull out the
> stuffings, and then when it got too disgusting and smelly, it would be
> replaced. He was silly/smart, because we'd tell him "Go get your kitty"
> and he'd bring it, but in the later stages, we could say that OR "Go get
> your rag" and he knew what we meant! How excited he would be to see a
> new kitty when we gave it to him, though! *G*

{REALLY BIG GRIN} I'm glad he liked the new ones. Mary Cat, Alban's
predecessor preferred her old toys. She preferred the old, worn-out toys to
the bright new ones every time. {Smile}

> Unlike the other Cocker, who loved tennis balls, but hated the new ones
> when the old one got too fragrant. When she retired it, she'd have to
> immediately take it out to the garbage can, because if she threw it away
> inside, he'd stand by the trash can and whine and cry! If it wasn't in
> the house, he'd just mope for a day or so before taking to the new ball.

We gave up, and let Mary play with her old toys. She was happy, after
all. {Smile}

> But he never was far from a tennis ball. He'd sleep with it under his
> ear. And try to kill humans by hopefully tossing it under your feet at
> very inopportune times. *G* I tried telling him once that if he killed
> us all by making us fall down the stairs, there would be no one left to
> ever throw his ball for him! ROFL

{LAUGH} I take it he didn't listen? {BIG SMILE} Or at least he didn't
believe you? {REALLY BIG GRIN}


Anne Elizabeth Baldwin
 >> Stay informed about: Arrrggh!! 

"Kat Hein" <katenigma00.DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:4qYfk.16654$89.3818@nlpi069.nbdc.sbc.com...
> m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage] wrote:
>> Bookwyrm wrote:
>>
>>> Kat Hein wrote:
>>>
>>>> Easier with dog toys than with cat toys. Or at least with what
>>>> cats consider toys. The ring off the milk jug and (stolen from my
>>>> stash)ponytail holders are the best kitty toys EVER, and
>>>> Christopher likes to remind us how easily they slip under the
>>>> scale. Usually at about 3 AM when he's rattling it, trying to
>>>> retrieve one. When I move it to clean the bathroom floor, there
>>>> are always 2 or 3 under it. I don't want to think about how many
>>>> are probably under the stove and refrigerator. *GGG*
>>>
>>> Older Son & DIL figure that there are likely a minimum of 12 of
>>> those little stuffed 'mice' under the refrigerator. And they'd love
>>> to figure out why one of their cats will only play with *red* mice.
>>
>> So much for the theory cats are color-blind. :>
>
> My old cat would prefer to sleep on BLUE blankets. We had a pink and blue
> one that were the same, and he chose the blue, and when it got retired,
> it was replaced with a different type of blue one, and he'd still seek it
> out.

{chuckle} He was clear about his preferences. {Smile}

> Christopher's favorite bed is a BLACK nylon suitcase/briefcase/backpack.
> In a room full of choices, he will always choose the black case. If there
> is no black, he will settle for navy and then dark green.

He's clear on his preferences, too. {Smile}

>>> I just have a dog that *loves* squeaky toys. And, after an hour or
>>> so of constant playing with each new squeaky, *loves* to rip it
>>> apart and de-squeak it. Then pull out all the stuffings (if such
>>> exist).
>>
>> One hour? That's fast work!
>
> Sounds about right. My parents' Jack Russel is dedicated like that, too.

I'm glad Val isn't quite as rough on his toys. {SMILE}


Anne Elizabeth Baldwin
 >> Stay informed about: Arrrggh!! 

"Kat Hein" <katenigma00 DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:G13gk.18308$N87.297@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
> m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage] wrote:
>> Kat Hein wrote:
>>> m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage] wrote:
>>>> Anne Elizabeth Baldwin wrote:
>>>>> <"m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage]"@earthlink.net> wrote in
>>>>> message
>>>>>> Anne Elizabeth Baldwin wrote:
<snip Roomba and couch>
>> <snip - losing pet toys>
>>>> I make sure there is space between book and bottom of furniture.
>>>> I just need the empty space to be smaller than most dog toys. :>
>>>
>>> Easier with dog toys than with cat toys. Or at least with what cats
>>> consider toys. The ring off the milk jug and (stolen from my
>>> stash)ponytail holders are the best kitty toys EVER, and
>>> Christopher likes to remind us how easily they slip under the
>>> scale. Usually at about 3 AM when he's rattling it, trying to
>>> retrieve one. When I move it to clean the bathroom floor, there
>>> are always 2 or 3 under it. I don't want to think about how many
>>> are probably under the stove and refrigerator. *GGG*
>>
>> Yeah. Dogs will choke themselves on small objects, so if a toy gets
>> down to a certain size, I toss it.
>>
>> I believe, in fact, that the Chihuahua may have figured out that habit
>> of mine... and may have just hidden his rawhide. I've been watching him
>> demolish the rawhide all afternoon, and the remains are getting in to
>> choking range. But I don't see them at the moment. Did he just hide
>> the small piece?
>
> They do always resent the loss of those small bits, don't they? Our cats
> fairly regularly try to kill themselves, too, though. Bella thinks
> rubberbands and twist ties are good to eat. *roll eyes* I keep telling
> her that one of these days, her luck is going to run out and I don't
> appreciate what that will cost us in vet bills!

With Valentine, it's plastic bags and wrappers. He's convinced they're
for him to eat. and nothing we say can dissuade him. {rueful smile}

>> (Oh, goody. I get to run my fingers under blankets and furniture,
>> looking for something a dog has been slobbering on all afternoon. Joy.)
>>
>> Ring off a milk jug is a toy? Who knew?
>>
>> Is the fridge on wheels? Some are. The stove... yeah, just don't think
>> about it.
>>
>
> No, fridge is not on wheels. So there they will stay until we move.
>
> And rings off plastic milk jugs have always been a favorite of all the
> cats I've had. They are easy to carry around, they go far when tossed in
> the air, and slide nicely across hard floors. What more could a cat ask
> for in a toy? *GGG*

:::The little plastic eggs are the best. They do all this, and go in
strange, unpredictable directions, too! {BIG KITTY-SMILE}:::

:::Valentine "Val":::

> Now why they have to be deposited in my shoes, I don't know. But
> Christopher has always done that- and before I moved out here, he'd
> almost always "pack" one in my suitcase when I went back to Ohio.

{Chuckle} He seems to think those are good storage places for them.
{SMILE}


Anne Elizabeth Baldwin
 >> Stay informed about: Arrrggh!! 

"m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage]"
<"m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage]"@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:peCdnXUXTuwidh3VnZ2dnUVZ_vWdnZ2d@earthlink.com...
> Bookwyrm wrote:
>> m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage] wrote:
>>
>>> Bookwyrm wrote:
> <dog toy de-squeaking>
>
>>> If it helps, my 10 year old dog (and I think yours is younger) is
>>> fairly mellow about his squeaky toy. Adores it, but mainly wants to
>>> throw/chase/carry. Every few months he gets a mad on, and the toy goes
>>> from tolerable to fluff on the floor. Maybe your dog will mature to a
>>> slower rate of destruction, too. ;>
>>
>> Gabby is 3.5 yrs old. Unbelievably, she has *one* intact squeaky (a
>> bone-shaped fuzzy one -- about 6' long) that she has had for about 2
>> years now!!
>
> That's the one! My dog would probably leave me if I didn't keep him
> supplied with bone-shaped fuzzy toys that have squeakers in them.

{chuckle, BIG GRIN} That sounds like a much beloved sort of toy indeed!
{REALLY BIG GRIN, HUMONGOUS GRIN}

>> She loves to pick it up (after carefully moving it around in her mouth
>> until she has it *just right*) and stand in the middle of the room
>> deliberately squeaking and squeaking and squeaking and squeaking....
>
> Urk. Um. Ah. What a, uh, lovely hobby for her...

{chuckle, AMUSED SMILE} I know. It's simply charming isn't it? {giggle
giggle, REALLY BIG GRIN}

>> Needless to say, she is very acutely interested in sounds.
>> 'Fetch' only holds her interest for a limited length of time.
>> Whereas, 'grab a slipper and chase me' is good for more time than the
>> humans have patience for. (Especially since her favorite place to run
>> and hide is under the living room coffee table.)
>
> I've also never had much luck getting a good fetch game going. Chase,
> though, is loved. Possibly because the speed and turning radius
> advantage that a small canine has over a large, clunky human makes the
> game a walkover for the dog.

{REALLY BIG GRIN} There's nothing quite like a game you're pretty sure
of winning if you work at it. {REALLY BIG GRIN} I enjoy those myself when I
play some types of computer solitaire. {BIG SMILE, REALLY BIG GRIN}

> That "sprint under the coffee table then squirt out into the gap between
> couch and end table in order to circle into the 6 inch gap between couch
> and wall" trick is popular here, too.

Oh! That sounds like a great place to hide from the humans in a game.
{REALLY BIG GRIN}


Anne Elizabeth Baldwin
 >> Stay informed about: Arrrggh!! 

"m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage]"
<"m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage]"@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:sPadnTVX3YwdmxzVnZ2dnUVZ_uidnZ2d@earthlink.com...
> Kat Hein wrote:
>> m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage] wrote:
>>
>>> Kat Hein wrote:
>>>
>>>> m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage] wrote:
> <snip>
>>>> We did, however, move up to the 2x4 method from preventing our new
>>>> reclining couch from being pushed back against the wall.
>>>
>>> Ooooooo. Reclining couch.... posh.
>>
>> We got rid of our old couches in the last move, and only had the sofa
>> bed to sit on- seating 2 people. We'd wanted a sectional with
>> recliners for years, but don't have room for it right now, so settled on
>> a couch with dual recliners. I think the cats love it as much as we do-
>> especially since the back cushions are nice and cushy and in front of
>> the windows, for prime Bird Watching in comfort. Then inn the evenings,
>> we will have one cat between us on the seat, another cat between us on
>> the back, and the 3rd one normally on my lap or armrest.
>
> Sectionals do look so comfy... The prior owners of my house had a
> sectional in the living room.
>
> And that was the *only* thing in the living room. (Ok, shelving for TV,
> too.) Small room.

{blink} Not even an end table or low table in front of the sectional?
{surprised look} I would have thought something like that was required to
put drinks and snacks down while watching the TV. {bemused smile}

> So no sectionals for me in the immediate future. No reclining couches,
> either -- would require too much clearance behind the couch.
>
> I do, finally (finally, finally, finally!) have a cushy couch. Loveseat.
> I used a wooden armed loveseat for years, and got very tired of clunking
> my elbow or head on the frame all the time.
>
> Cushy is very popular with the small and furry crowd. :>

:::Oh yes. Of course it is. It's nice and soft and snuggly!
{kitty-smile}:::

> (No, the couch is not a jungle gym!)

:::{blink blink} Are you certain about that? They're great for climbing
on! {puzzled look}:::

> <snip - losing pet toys>
>>> Yeah. Dogs will choke themselves on small objects, so if a toy gets
>>> down to a certain size, I toss it.
>>>
>>> I believe, in fact, that the Chihuahua may have figured out that habit
>>> of mine... and may have just hidden his rawhide. I've been watching
>>> him demolish the rawhide all afternoon, and the remains are getting in
>>> to choking range. But I don't see them at the moment. Did he just
>>> hide the small piece?
>>
>> They do always resent the loss of those small bits, don't they? Our cats
>> fairly regularly try to kill themselves, too, though. Bella thinks
>> rubberbands and twist ties are good to eat. *roll eyes* I keep telling
>> her that one of these days, her luck is going to run out and I don't
>> appreciate what that will cost us in vet bills!
>
> Eating rubber bands?
>
> Oh, gods, what a terrifying hobby.

:::I suppose they might be okay. I really prefer plastic bags, myself.
{feline nod}:::

> <snip>
>> And rings off plastic milk jugs have always been a favorite of all the
>> cats I've had. They are easy to carry around, they go far when tossed
>> in the air, and slide nicely across hard floors. What more could a cat
>> ask for in a toy? *GGG* Now why they have to be deposited in my shoes, I
>> don't know. But Christopher has always done that- and before I moved out
>> here, he'd almost always "pack" one in my suitcase when I went back to
>> Ohio.
>
> A person just has to wonder about cat logic, sometimes. Perhaps they
> think a nice foot odor would improve the fun of the milk jug ring?

:::Maybe he just left it there for later. You need to store your toys
somewhere, after all. {knowing nod}:::

{loop UP, human sigh, wry smile}


:::Valentine "Val":::

with Anne Elizabeth Baldwin
 >> Stay informed about: Arrrggh!! 

"Kathleen Hein" <katenigma00.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:dp8gk.18332$N87.10389@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com...
> m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage] wrote:
>> Kat Hein wrote:
>>> m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage] wrote:
>>>
>>>> Kat Hein wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage] wrote:

<snip>

>> I do, finally (finally, finally, finally!) have a cushy couch. Loveseat.
>> I used a wooden armed loveseat for years, and got very tired of clunking
>> my elbow or head on the frame all the time.
>>
>> Cushy is very popular with the small and furry crowd. :>
>>
>> (No, the couch is not a jungle gym!)
>
> But of course it is! *GGG* Only silly humans don't see its full
> potential.

Of course. Mary, Alban, and now Valentine all agree on this! {lopsided
Smile}

Actually, we don't mind. They've all used the same pillows, same pillow
cases, and even the same bedspreads that go over the pillows and cases. We
have yet to need to replace anything. {SMILE}

>> <snip - losing pet toys>
>>>> Yeah. Dogs will choke themselves on small objects, so if a toy gets
>>>> down to a certain size, I toss it.
>>>>
>>>> I believe, in fact, that the Chihuahua may have figured out that habit
>>>> of mine... and may have just hidden his rawhide. I've been watching
>>>> him demolish the rawhide all afternoon, and the remains are getting in
>>>> to choking range. But I don't see them at the moment. Did he just
>>>> hide the small piece?
>>>
>>> They do always resent the loss of those small bits, don't they? Our
>>> cats fairly regularly try to kill themselves, too, though. Bella
>>> thinks rubberbands and twist ties are good to eat. *roll eyes* I keep
>>> telling her that one of these days, her luck is going to run out and I
>>> don't appreciate what that will cost us in vet bills!
>>
>> Eating rubber bands?
>>
>> Oh, gods, what a terrifying hobby.
>
> Cats like to eat all kinds of things that can get trapped in their
> intestines. Tinsel from Xmas trees being among the most favorite. But
> it's a lot easier to keep tinsel out of the house than rubber bands and
> twist ties. Especially when she will dig them out of the trash.

You left out plastic bags and wrappers. Those are Valentine's favorites,
I'm afraid. Although we're really lucky with those so far. The few we
haven't kept away from him have come up on their own, with only a little
mess. He didn't choke, nor did he need surgery. {small smile} We still
aren't trusting our luck. We really try to keep them away from him. {Smile}

>> <snip>
>>> And rings off plastic milk jugs have always been a favorite of all the
>>> cats I've had. They are easy to carry around, they go far when tossed
>>> in the air, and slide nicely across hard floors. What more could a cat
>>> ask for in a toy? *GGG* Now why they have to be deposited in my shoes,
>>> I don't know. But Christopher has always done that- and before I moved
>>> out here, he'd almost always "pack" one in my suitcase when I went back
>>> to Ohio.
>>
>> A person just has to wonder about cat logic, sometimes. Perhaps they
>> think a nice foot odor would improve the fun of the milk jug ring?
>
> If he remembered to go back to them and retrieve them, I'd believe this.
> He does love to sleep with his head tucked inside a shoe. But no, these
> toys just get placed there until I go to wear the shoe and empty it out.

If he's trying to store them there, he's terrible about retrieving them
later. {puzzled Smile}


Anne Elizabeth Baldwin
 >> Stay informed about: Arrrggh!! 

"m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage]"
<"m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage]"@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:kNadncCRjIt3qhzVnZ2dnUVZ_jednZ2d@earthlink.com...
> Kathleen Hein wrote:
>> m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage] wrote:
>>> Kat Hein wrote:
>>>> m_thomas[numBksInLastHrldMage] wrote:
> <snip>
>>>> We got rid of our old couches in the last move, and only had the sofa
>>>> bed to sit on- seating 2 people. We'd wanted a sectional with
>>>> recliners for years, but don't have room for it right now, so settled
>>>> on a couch with dual recliners. I think the cats love it as much as we
>>>> do- especially since the back cushions are nice and cushy and in front
>>>> of the windows, for prime Bird Watching in comfort. Then in the
>>>> evenings, we will have one cat between us on the seat, another cat
>>>> between us on the back, and the 3rd one normally on my lap or armrest.
>>>
>>> Sectionals do look so comfy... The prior owners of my house had a
>>> sectional in the living room.
>>>
>>> And that was the *only* thing in the living room. (Ok, shelving for
>>> TV, too.) Small room.
>>>
>>> So no sectionals for me in the immediate future. No reclining couches,
>>> either -- would require too much clearance behind the couch.
>>
>> The modern ones actually aren't that bad. We only need 3-4 inches. The
>> perfect amount of space for cats to climb/hide behind, in fact. *G*
>> We're not exactly swimming in extra space ourselves.
>
> Hmmm. It is possible that you shopped at a better furniture store than I
> did. The reclining couches I saw all needed more space than that... But
> you're closer to San Francisco. Furniture stores may carry more "stuff
> for a small space" where you are.
>
> Or maybe I was simply so distracted by the huge reclining monsters I
> never noticed less sizeable options. It would be fun to have a couch big
> enough to sleep on.
>
> Ah, well. At least I've finally achieved a couch large enough to sprawl
> on.

That does sound like a nice couch. {SMILE}

> <snip - losing pet toys>
>>>> They do always resent the loss of those small bits, don't they? Our
>>>> cats fairly regularly try to kill themselves, too, though. Bella
>>>> thinks rubberbands and twist ties are good to eat. *roll eyes* I keep
>>>> telling her that one of these days, her luck is going to run out and I
>>>> don't appreciate what that will cost us in vet bills!
>>>
>>> Eating rubber bands?
>>>
>>> Oh, gods, what a terrifying hobby.
>>
>> Cats like to eat all kinds of things that can get trapped in their
>> intestines. Tinsel from Xmas trees being among the most favorite. But
>> it's a lot easier to keep tinsel out of the house than rubber bands and
>> twist ties. Especially when she will dig them out of the trash.
>
> Digs them out of the trash?
>
> Oh, that's simply cheating!

I wish Valentine agreed. I really did. We built a special lid for the
kitchen wastebasket to keep him out. Then we cut off the extra around the
edge to keep him from pushing the lid off with his nose. We added a handle
to make it easier for us and heavier for him at the same time.

He continued to work on the problem of how to get it open.

So Dad finally added a little "L" of a hook so straight up doesn't work.
We have to pull it up a little, then out one particular side. Valentine
hasn't figured this out... at least not yet. We're hoping he won't, but
we're still watching. {lop-sided Smile}

> I suppose those finger-thwapping metal trash cans with the foot pedals
> can discourage cat-in-trash-ness.

Except that most of those are easily nudged open with a little nose.
{half-smile}

> But, no, no realistic way to keep rubber bands out of the house.
>
> I'm considering one of the cans with lids for my bedroom. Silly small
> boy has developed a new hobby -- emptying stuff out of the bedroom trash.
> Mostly tissues and the contents of the Roomba's vacuuming bin -- not
> stuff I want back out on the floor again!

I hope it works. Smile}

> <snip>
>>> A person just has to wonder about cat logic, sometimes. Perhaps they
>>> think a nice foot odor would improve the fun of the milk jug ring?
>>
>> If he remembered to go back to them and retrieve them, I'd believe this.
>> He does love to sleep with his head tucked inside a shoe. But no, these
>> toys just get placed there until I go to wear the shoe and empty it out.
>
> Maybe kitty is like me. Great one for planning improvements, but not so
> good at follow through. I plan improvements to this and that all the
> time... rarely actually get the job all the way done, however. Maybe
> kitty does, too.
>
> Sleeps with his head in a shoe? Oooo, oooo, oooo! I know another kitty
> he should meet! They'd be pals!
>
> Or they'd fight over smelly shoes.
>
> But I know another kitty that sleeps with her head in shoes, too.

Both Mary and Alban loved to sleep on shoes. Alban liked to spray them,
too, if they smelled of another cat or a dog. Hence the stack of plastic
boxes roughly the size of small shoeboxes by the door. Valentine hasn't
shown the same tendency, but why move them now? {spread hands}


Anne Elizabeth Baldwin
 >> Stay informed about: Arrrggh!!