Reminding Myself Why I Love Them
Some days, like yesterday, I have to remind myself why I love the cats. I’ve got one puking (Daisy) and one pooping (Franklin) in an inappropriate place for the second time in a week. Sigh. In Daisy’s case, I know she can’t help it, and the best I can hope for is that I hear her (I’ve become quite attuned to the sound, actually) and can move her onto the linoleum of the kitchen before she hits the carpet.
As for Franklin, I’m not sure exactly where this acting out is coming from. The week I was in Pasadena for training, Sean said he was digging piles of litter out of the box onto the bathroom floor and peeing on it. Before that, he had peed on the bathmat and on the rug I had underneath the litter box. Needless to say once I figured that out, both rugs were thrown in the washer and neither of them was put back on the floor. They can make all the mess they want on the tile (though I’d prefer no mess, it is their bathroom for all intents and purposes unless I have guests).
But misbehavior and digestive issues aside, there is the almost dog-like greeting I get when I come home every day. Franklin will circle my legs for at least 10 minutes or flop out for a belly rub, and Daisy will meow until I pay her adequate attention (which usually involves picking her up and nuzzling her for a bit). There’s the moments when I’m sitting on the couch and Daisy will curl up in the crook of my arm, or Franklin will nuzzle in right beside my leg, or maybe even put his front paws on my leg. Sometimes he tries to be a lap kitty, but his general nature seems to be a “near but not on” cat.
Or the laughs I get watching Franklin amuse himself - his latest fascination is the plastic pull-tab from a milk jug. I normally buy milk in cartons, but happened to buy a half-gallon in a plastic jug. I tossed the plastic ring on the floor and Franklin has been in love with it ever since. He’ll pick it up and toss it and bound after it and bite it … I’m not sure why the fascination, but he loves it as much as his “real” toys.
Yep, I do love the kitties even if I do have to remind myself I signed up for this -behavioral problems and all.