Posted by jane d on September 22, 2011, at 2:16:13
In reply to Re: Kittens, posted by emmanuel98 on September 20, 2011, at 19:43:34
> I've never had a pet before. They're great. The female has just figured out how to jump from the top of the kitchen chair to the countertop, which is dangerous, because she can walk over the stove and sink. We moved the chairs, but it didn't matter. She just figured out how to jump further. I said to my husband that all this means is we will have to stay in the kitchen when something is simmering on the stovetop.
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> They are almost unbearably cute. I was angry at my husband when he announced that he had unilaterally adopted kittens, but now I worry about them and talk to them. Today I got home from work and laid down on my back on the couch and they both fell asleep on top of me. I was afraid to move and disturb them. But it was so relaxing, I felt like I had taken a valium
Cats are really wonderful that way. I think part of what makes it so magical is that they're so obviously relaxed by being with us too. It's flattering and addictive.But they do get into places they shouldn't - especially when they are young. It's like having a toddler that can reach up to the ceiling. I swear kittens can levitate. If you have breakables around the house that you love you may want to put them away for a few months.
I worry about my stove/countertop too. I try to minimize attractions up there. I keep the tasty houseplants somewhere else. And I put her down whenever I catch her. I try to be careful nothing on the stove can be knocked over. And since my electric stove stays hot so long I put a pot of cold water over any hot burner while it cools down to block it.
As other people have said it's fine to lock them out of your bedroom at night. When they are older they may even be able to learn not to go wild while you're sleeping. And it's fine to lock them out when you're working or concentrating as long as that's not most of the time. They won't suffer since they have each other but you don't want them learning to do without you either. And you'd be amazed how quickly you learn to type while arching your wrists around a cat. Or hunching one shoulder up to make a better perch. And lifting up the tail that blocks that one part of the screen you need to see will become almost automatic. So will saving your work often after the first 3 or 4 times they sit on the delete key. :-)
Have you discovered free cat toys yet? Crumpled junk mail. Uncrumpled non junk mail. Paper grocery bags. Shoe boxes or any other kind of boxes. Milk jug caps. Pens. Wristwatches. The jewelry that you just put down for a minute. Even cell phones. (A flashlight for checking under furniture helps.)
I wouldn't trade my grown up cat for the world but I envy you your kittens too.
poster:jane d
thread:997118
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20110910/msgs/997475.html