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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / February 2005*sigh* .. it was too good to last
All of her life ... er, well, since kittenhood, Oscar has been an extraordinarily well-behaved cat. It had to stop some time, right? Okay, it's not a huge deal. Most cat owners would kill to have my problems. But anyway, Oscar's been getting more comfortable in her own skin, less easily frightened, and that's a good thing. But ... today, as I was talking on the phone to my parents, I saw her jump up onto the edge of the kitchen counter, on the narrow strip of the sink. She has never, ever gotten onto a kitchen counter. I shoo'd her off ... And then, later in the evening, Eric was astounded to find her up on the raised "bar" side of the kitchen counter, chewing on a plant. He yelled at her, and she froze, looking for all the world like she was trying to hide under two tiny stalks with leaves. I was so busy laughing that I don't think I backed him up very well. Since he's left for hockey, I've removed her from the counter once and warned her several times when I saw her eyeing the counter appraisingly. I've also had to warn her away from the other plant in the living room, which is also on a table surface. I'm sure my lifting her off of the counter has made no impression, but I'm hoping she's suitably annoyed by my prying open her jaws (in case she's planning to eat a leaf) that she'll stop. Yeah, right. Why now, after several years of counter-free existence? I'll never understand the mind of a cat.  Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* > All of her life ... er, well, since kittenhood, Oscar has been an > extraordinarily well-behaved cat. [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > Why now, after several years of counter-free existence? I'll never understand > the mind of a cat. Perhaps a catnip plant of her own would help. MLB > Perhaps a catnip plant of her own would help. MLB Not a bad idea. Thanks for the suggestion. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* > Why now, after several years of counter-free existence? I'll never understand > the mind of a cat. Chablis & Muscat seem to OBSESS about anything I try to discourage. If I say 'NO' & back it up with the squirt gun, it MUST be good.... SignatureMathew Butler to 2 kittens: Chablis & Muscat En Vino Veritas >> Why now, after several years of counter-free existence? I'll never >> understand the mind of a cat. >> > Chablis & Muscat seem to OBSESS about anything I try to discourage. > If I say 'NO' & back it up with the squirt gun, it MUST be good.... Yeah, but Oscar isn't quite that obstinate. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* > Why now, after several years of counter-free existence? I'll never understand > the mind of a cat. Chablis & Muscat seem to OBSESS about anything I try to discourage. If I say 'NO' & back it up with the squirt gun, it MUST be good.... SignatureMathew Butler to 2 kittens: Chablis & Muscat En Vino Veritas > All of her life ... er, well, since kittenhood, Oscar has been an > extraordinarily well-behaved cat. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > own skin, less easily frightened, and that's a good thing. But ... > today, as I was talking on the phone to my parents, I saw her jump up > onto the edge of the kitchen counter, on the narrow strip of the > sink. She has never, ever gotten onto a kitchen counter. I shoo'd > her off ... > > And then, later in the evening, Eric was astounded to find her up on > the raised "bar" side of the kitchen counter, chewing on a plant. He > yelled at her, and she froze, looking for all the world like she was > trying to hide under two tiny stalks with leaves. I was so busy [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > and warned her several times when I saw her eyeing the counter > appraisingly. I've also had to warn her away from the other plant in > the living room, which is also on a table surface. I'm sure my > lifting her off of the counter has made no impression, but I'm hoping > she's suitably annoyed by my prying open her jaws (in case she's > planning to eat a leaf) that she'll stop. Yeah, right. > > Why now, after several years of counter-free existence? I'll never > understand the mind of a cat. There is absolutely no point in trying to keep a cat that is determined to get on counters, off the counters. It will just frustrate you, your husband and the cat. The cat will win in the end anyway. Vino lives on the counters. -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album > There is absolutely no point in trying to keep a cat that is > determined to get on counters, off the counters. It will just > frustrate you, your husband and the cat. The cat will win in the end > anyway. Vino lives on the counters. I agree with Britta completely. You can try all you want, but a determined cat is an unstoppable force. We're still hopeful Fez and Rufous will listen to us when we shoo them off the counters. After all, they're still young and impressionable. We've given up on Luna, who lives on the counters live Vino. :) SignatureVictor M. Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com >> There is absolutely no point in trying to keep a cat that is >> determined to get on counters, off the counters. It will just [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > young and impressionable. We've given up on Luna, who lives on the > counters live Vino. :) I agree with Britta and Victor. I just "cat-proofed" my house (taking out any plants and other things that could either be harmful to the cats or be harmed by the cats) and let them have free rein. You might even get a cat to not do something *while you're watching*, but you will never, *EVER* keep a cat from doing what s/he wants when you are not there. Hugs, CatNipped > I agree with Britta and Victor. I just "cat-proofed" my house (taking out > any plants and other things that could either be harmful to the cats or be > harmed by the cats) and let them have free rein. You might even get a cat > to not do something *while you're watching*, but you will never, *EVER* keep > a cat from doing what s/he wants when you are not there. Oh, I'm not saying I can keep her from doing what she wants to do. But I do think I have a chance of convincing her she doesn't *really* want to be on the counters before the habit gets ingrained. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* > > There is absolutely no point in trying to keep a cat that is > > determined to get on counters, off the counters. It will just [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > they're still young and impressionable. We've given up on Luna, who > lives on the counters live Vino. :) The cats I know, know darn well they aren't supposed to be on the counters *when they can be squirted*. They seem to take great joy in prancing around on the counters when the hoomins back is turned or when the hoomin is otherwise occupied and can't acces the squirt gun. My friend's cat not only got up on the counter but did a great big fat steaming one just as my friend finally got her very unsettled new-born to start breast feeding, and therefore couldn't leap for the spray bottle or otherwise do anything (couldn't even yell less it frighten her son) but just look on helplessly as the Spawn of Satan (as the cat is affectionately known) showed her hoomin who was, in fact, running the joint. Face it, cats do what they darn well want, and we should just relax and accept it. Yowie >>> There is absolutely no point in trying to keep a cat that is >>> determined to get on counters, off the counters. It will just [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Yowie Wow. I just find that so bizarre. I've just never heard of a cat doing THAT before! > The cats I know, know darn well they aren't supposed to be on the counters > *when they can be squirted*. They seem to take great joy in prancing around [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Face it, cats do what they darn well want, and we should just relax and > accept it. Well, that's a nice thought, but I'm not yet resigned to eating my dinner with a tail stuck up my nose. I bought some catgrass, which had Oscar's attention the instant I set it down. Maybe distraction will work. I'd love to get a cat tree, but DH is opposed to spending more money on the cat right now, not that I can blame him. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* >> > There is absolutely no point in trying to keep a cat that is >> > determined to get on counters, off the counters. It will just [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >on the counters when the hoomins back is turned or when the hoomin is >otherwise occupied and can't acces the squirt gun. Reminds me of tiny Mimi (RB) for whom scratching the furniture was a game-- not only satisfying in its own right, but because it got a rise out of the hoomins. She always had this absolutely devilish "Whee! Check me out!" look on her face when she did it. Getting away from the squirt gun only made it more fun <sigh>. Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com > There is absolutely no point in trying to keep a cat that is > determined to get on counters, off the counters. It will just > frustrate you, your husband and the cat. The cat will win in the end > anyway. Vino lives on the counters. It's possible, but I'm not ready to throw in the towel, yet. Oscar's always been good about understanding the difference between elevated surfaces on which she's allowed (couches, bed, windowsill) and those on which she's not (tables, counters, bookshelves). I'd like to keep that distinction. I haven't tried anything besides exclaiming "No!", clapping sharply, and moving her yet. The suggestion of a catnip plant sounds good to me, and I do have those stickypaw strips somewhere (never been used); I just have to find them. Interestingly, she responds to my warningly saying, "Oscar ...." by hopping off of the banned spot. DH, on the other hand, she completely ignores. I guess we know who's the boss around here! (Yes, she's grey and furry. But leave me my illusions.) Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* >> All of her life ... er, well, since kittenhood, Oscar has been an >> extraordinarily well-behaved cat. [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] >frustrate you, your husband and the cat. The cat will win in the end >anyway. Vino lives on the counters. LOL. Exactly. The only thing to do is when you have guests, and he/she jumps on the table or counters, you just say "Oh my goodness, what's gotten into him/her? She/he NEVER does that!" Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com >>>All of her life ... er, well, since kittenhood, Oscar has been an >>>extraordinarily well-behaved cat. [quoted text clipped - 46 lines] > he/she jumps on the table or counters, you just say "Oh my goodness, > what's gotten into him/her? She/he NEVER does that!" LOL. I find saying "Oh look he's showing off for you. He must really like you!" works really well, too. :-) > Theresa > Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh > My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com SignatureMargaret Fine mefine@mindspring.com >> LOL. Exactly. The only thing to do is when you have guests, and >> he/she jumps on the table or counters, you just say "Oh my goodness, >> what's gotten into him/her? She/he NEVER does that!" > > LOL. I find saying "Oh look he's showing off for you. He must really > like you!" works really well, too. :-) Man, some people get really offended by a cat on a counter or coffee table even. My old roommate used to scream at me to get my cats off the coffee table. I'd look at him like he was nuts. I mean, it's a CAT! If it was a hog covered in poop, yeah, I may have a different opinion. kili > Man, some people get really offended by a cat on a counter or coffee table > even. My old roommate used to scream at me to get my cats off the coffee > table. I'd look at him like he was nuts. I mean, it's a CAT! If it was a > hog covered in poop, yeah, I may have a different opinion. Well, if you saw Oscar's butt some days, you might have a different opinion, too ... I wouldn't be happy if a person sat on my coffee table or counter, either, for the record. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* >> Man, some people get really offended by a cat on a counter or coffee >> table even. My old roommate used to scream at me to get my cats off [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > I wouldn't be happy if a person sat on my coffee table or counter, > either, for the record. *I* prefer to sit on a chair myself, but my cats have "almost" free reign. No counters, but everything else is their playground. kili >> Man, some people get really offended by a cat on a counter or coffee table >> even. My old roommate used to scream at me to get my cats off the coffee [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >I wouldn't be happy if a person sat on my coffee table or counter, either, for >the record. PEOPLE! Ewwww! Of course not!!!! *People* are a completely different story. ;) Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com > All of her life ... er, well, since kittenhood, Oscar has been an > extraordinarily well-behaved cat. [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > Why now, after several years of counter-free existence? I'll never > understand the mind of a cat. I had a cat do that too. After about 7 years of perfect behavior she was up on the counters! I didn't get it either! What, all of a sudden, makes a counter so enticing? kili > I had a cat do that too. After about 7 years of perfect behavior she was up > on the counters! I didn't get it either! What, all of a sudden, makes a > counter so enticing? I don't know. Oscar has been much more adventurous and less lazy lately. There could be all sorts of reasons, I suppose. I like that she's more alert and fun to be around, but of course, the more she acts like a kitten, the more she has the potential to act like a hoolikitten! Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* >> I had a cat do that too. After about 7 years of perfect behavior she was up >> on the counters! I didn't get it either! What, all of a sudden, makes a [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > and fun to be around, but of course, the more she acts like a kitten, the more > she has the potential to act like a hoolikitten! They are bored and looking for something new and exciting. (Maybe I should climb on a counter. Which should I choose -- the bathroom or the kitchen?) MLB > They are bored and looking for something new and exciting. (Maybe I should > climb on a counter. Which should I choose -- the bathroom or the kitchen?) > MLB I think, for best effect, you need to climb something you can't normally see. Like up to the roof, maybe. Then again, maybe this is only fun for cats. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* >> They are bored and looking for something new and exciting. (Maybe >> I should climb on a counter. Which should I choose -- the bathroom [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Then again, maybe this is only fun for cats. Yeah, and then they get stuck and cry for help! Cats are so dang funny. kili >> They are bored and looking for something new and exciting. (Maybe I should >> climb on a counter. Which should I choose -- the bathroom or the kitchen?) [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Then again, maybe this is only fun for cats. I can't see the top pf the fridge but it would be just my luck to slip on the dust that I can never reach. MLB Maybe she wants a higher perch from which to rule her domain? ;o) Do you have a cat tree? If not, I'd suggest maybe get one and put it right near a window. Christine > All of her life ... er, well, since kittenhood, Oscar has been an > extraordinarily well-behaved cat. [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > Why now, after several years of counter-free existence? I'll never understand > the mind of a cat. > Maybe she wants a higher perch from which to rule her domain? ;o) Do you > have a cat tree? If not, I'd suggest maybe get one and put it right near a > window. Hrm, interesting thought. The counter and table in question are nowhere near a window, though. We have a very open floorplan, and her favorite spot in the house is the upstairs hallway, which has balconies on either side and from which she can see both the front door and the living room and kitchen ... and there's a sunbeam just for her. She has three scratch posts. The first two are pretty short, but the third is tall enough that she can really stretch. She doesn't have a cat tree. I've been eyeing them, but they're expensive, I'm not sure where I'd put one, and I was thinking they'd make more sense for multiple kitties. But maybe not. Still, the expensive point holds true, and I've spent a lot on optional goodies for Oscar recently. And our taxes held some nasty surprises this year. I'll have to keep thinking about whether there's a place that I can put a cat tree where she can see a lot and still be near us. I suspect the current interest has more to do with the plants than with the counters per se, though. She used to chew on one of the plants until we put it up on a table; she left it alone after that, till now. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* I actually have a half tree in my kitchen that Pearl and Sugar (but mostly Pearl) sleep in all the time. It is across from the counter by the "bar" ( My place is open too with the kitchen being divided from the rest with just a counter/bar type half wall. Please Please get her one kitty tree. Every kitty needs a tree to scale and hang off of, butt swinging as they claw madly at the side and then heroically pull themselves to the top! At Petco I think they have really reasonably priced ones that are very sturdy. I got our biggest one, that they climb up ALL THE TIME for 138$ I mean, you just haven't experienced fun watching your cat until they ruuuuuuuun across the room and climb half way up and start that butt swinging front clawing "I'M INCREEEEEEDIBLEEEE!" routine. It's so fun. > > Maybe she wants a higher perch from which to rule her domain? ;o) Do you > > have a cat tree? If not, I'd suggest maybe get one and put it right near a [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > She used to chew on one of the plants until we put it up on a table; she left > it alone after that, till now. >I actually have a half tree in my kitchen that Pearl and Sugar (but mostly >Pearl) sleep in all the time. It is across from the counter by the "bar" ( [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >way up and start that butt swinging front clawing "I'M INCREEEEEEDIBLEEEE!" >routine. It's so fun. Gotta agree with Karen, even if it *doesn'T* keep her off the counters, it's priceless to see how their already healthy senses of self-regard expand when they've got a tree. ;) I love to see them fling themselves around on the thing, all but yelling "COWABUNGA!" Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com >> I actually have a half tree in my kitchen that Pearl and Sugar (but >> mostly Pearl) sleep in all the time. It is across from the counter [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > self-regard expand when they've got a tree. ;) I love to see them > fling themselves around on the thing, all but yelling "COWABUNGA!" My hubby is in the process of making a kitty tree for us - it's MUCH cheaper if you have the tools (he's a carpenter by trade). We started it by buying a round, carpeted kitty nest thingy with a hole in it that Chloe hides in to get away from Tyrone's brutal roughness. Boys vs. girls thing, I think. I knew that it needed to be up higher, so my hubby got some plywood for a base, 2X4's for the stand and another piece of plywood that we're going to affix the cat nest thingy to. I need more carpet and that rope stuff, but they're already using it as is bare, for a scratching post (thank GOD!). It's only about 20 inches tall from floor to base, but they're already intrigued. I can't wait until it's finished. Cost of the tree so far? $11. kili > My hubby is in the process of making a kitty tree for us - it's MUCH cheaper > if you have the tools (he's a carpenter by trade). We started it by buying [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > kili That reminds me -- someone (sheryl, I believe) actually sent me an instructional CD for doing this. But I'm sad to say I've been too busy to sit down and actually try. When I have a few minutes of downtime, all I want to do is collapse! Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* >> My hubby is in the process of making a kitty tree for us - it's MUCH >> cheaper if you have the tools (he's a carpenter by trade). We [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > busy to sit down and actually try. When I have a few minutes of > downtime, all I want to do is collapse! Can't blame you there! My hubby works on mine right when he comes home from work because he's still in carpenter mode. On a weekend? Forget it! :~) kili >She doesn't have a cat tree. I've been eyeing them, but they're expensive, >I'm not sure where I'd put one, and I was thinking they'd make more sense [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >held >some nasty surprises this year. Check out Walmart's I found a floor to cieling one that we wedged into a corner(near a bay window) for safey. It cost 1/2 of the pet store one's. Suz Macmoosette =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= "People that hate cats will come back as mice in their next life." --Faith Resnick |\__/| (=':'=) (")_(") > All of her life ... er, well, since kittenhood, Oscar has been an > extraordinarily well-behaved cat. [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > Why now, after several years of counter-free existence? I'll never understand > the mind of a cat. Sounds like it is the plants that are the main attraction. Seems like you might want to go into the grass growing business. Oliver craves greens so we've got a real production going with two planters of cat grass from http://www.bluegrassbuddy.com/ He mows one down to nubs and we will put out the second planter while the first planter is either given a recovery period or replanted. It has oat, wheat, and rye grasses. He just loves it. They also have catnip. It is very easy because they give you a growing medium (not dirt) and you pretty much just water the medium, toss the seeds on top of that and mix it up with a fork and put a lid on it for two days. After two days you take the lid off off the sprouts, let it rest somewhere the cat can't bother it, and in 3 more days you have a nice lush serving of grass. You do have to be careful you don't get arrested. I noticed someone at another table giving us odd looks at lunch when I was telling someone that I didn't think you could get high quality plant around here so I started my own growing project. :-) SignatureMargaret Fine mefine@mindspring.com They also have catnip. It is very easy > because they give you a growing medium (not dirt) and you pretty much > just water the medium, toss the seeds on top of that and mix it up with [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > that I didn't think you could get high quality plant around here so I > started my own growing project. :-) ROFL!! >> All of her life ... er, well, since kittenhood, Oscar has been an >> extraordinarily well-behaved cat. [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > that I didn't think you could get high quality plant around here so I > started my own growing project. :-) Thanks for the URL I have ordered some more catnip. MLB >>> All of her life ... er, well, since kittenhood, Oscar has been an >>> extraordinarily well-behaved cat. [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] > > Thanks for the URL I have ordered some more catnip. MLB I ordered the cat grass and catnip and it arrived promptly. TuTu had a delightful roll in some of the catnip. MLB > Sounds like it is the plants that are the main attraction. Seems like you > might want to go into the grass growing business. Oliver craves greens so [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > two days you take the lid off off the sprouts, let it rest somewhere the cat > can't bother it, and in 3 more days you have a nice lush serving of grass. Sounds good. Looks like petsmart carries this brand (not the ceramic pot, though), so I can buy it without inflicting the shipping fees on myself. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* I have written about that same problem with Wilson I cannotstop him from trying out the plants and flowers he ruined half my plants on the Veranda and I'm constantly moving my fresh flowers around to get then out of his way. Jean.P. > All of her life ... er, well, since kittenhood, Oscar has been an > extraordinarily well-behaved cat. [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* > I have written about that same problem with Wilson I cannotstop him from > trying out the plants and flowers he ruined half my plants on the Veranda > and I'm constantly moving my fresh flowers around to get then out of his > way. Jean.P. That must be very frustrating. We only have three bedraggled plants indoors, and we rarely remember to cut the roses and bring some inside, so the problem is fairly limited. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* Mine's fairly limited too now thanks to Wilson, and you should see the screen door he ruined,as soon as my son has time I'll get it fixed as he doesn't run up to the top of it anymore now that he is too big and heavy. Jean.P. > > I have written about that same problem with Wilson I cannotstop him from > > trying out the plants and flowers he ruined half my plants on the Veranda [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* |
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