She leaps, she flies, she snoops, and she pounces. Our new kitten is in the accelerated learning program of life. She has been accidentally stepped on, closed in a kitchen cupboard, fallen over the side of the stairs, and off the side of the bed. We sound like terrible pet owners, but the truth is she is so curious about everything that she gets into mishaps before we can stop them. I’m happy to report that none of these misadventures have hurt her. In fact, as I write this she is curled in my lap purring in a most sleepy and contented way.
Because Pudgy is, er, was a barn cat, I’ve been trying to de-wild her a bit. We’re working on what the word, “NO!” means and it’s going pretty well. Mostly. I think I’ve said the word “No” more in the past two weeks than in my entire life, so she’s training me well. Speaking of training…the litter pan situation…well, let’s just say she finds it more fun to play in than “go” in. I’m optimistic that things will work out in the end, so to speak. The other day I bought her a cute collar. I figured the sooner she accepted the lady-like constraint of a collar the better. Twice I caught her with one paw through the collar trying to pull it off. She looked like an over-anxious school kid raising her hand to answer a question. I tsk-tsk’d her and tightened the collar, but it is the type that has elastic so that it will pull off if she gets caught. Within twenty-four hours the collar went missing and she’s not talking. When I pick her up to give her the evil eye she rubs her head against my face in the sweetest way. She is such a manipulator! But, she’s also the best part of my day.
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