Laugh. Learn. Love cats.
Cupcake: Aunt O brought me a special gift. The humans got super excited when they saw it.
Cupcake: I didn’t understand what I was supposed to do with it.
Cupcake: It didn’t have a taste or anything.
Cupcake: Whatever it is, can I keep it? It’s kind of cuddly.
Cupcake: What is that in my water?
Cupcake: The humans said it’s hot weather, so they were going to put something special in my water. Now something is swimming around in there!
Cupcake: Every time I put in my paw, it gets wet, so I can’t seem to catch the little things in the water.
Cupcake: And they’re shrinking fast. Are they drowning? I can’t save them!
Cupcake: They’re gone!
In this hot weather, we periodically add some ice to the cat fountain to cool the water off. Cupcake is fascinated by it, and she comes running as soon as she hears the sound of the ice splash into the water. She still hasn’t figured out why it vanishes so quickly.
Up until now, Cupcake has gone on adventures around town, but she hasn’t seen much of the area near home. Last weekend, she got to check out the front yard.
Since this was the hottest week so far this year, her adventure happened early in the morning. The grass was still soaked with dew. She did a lot of foot-flicking to try to dry her feet and asked to go somewhere a little more dry.
Somewhere more dry ended up a nearby small median island with trees we call Poop Island because neighbors walk their dogs there and aren’t always careful about picking up after them. Cupcake thought it was a cool place despite the funny name.
She was especially excited about the trees. Unlike the little palm trees at her favorite Starbucks planter, these are oaks, and they are much larger around.
Her first try climbing the tree failed, and she slid right back down.But she stood there and thought about it a minute more.
Cupcake tried climbing again, and the second time, she went right up, just like a squirrel. She was probably disappointed she wasn’t allowed to climb as high as the squirrels.
Cupcake didn’t think it was fair she wasn’t allowed to climb farther than the length of her leash. At least she could chase bugs around the grass and base of the tree. That was a lot of fun!
One of the neighbors happened by and was amazed to see Cupcake outside with a harness. The neighbor’s daughter has been asking to take their cat outside with a harness, and our neighbor thought it wasn’t possible. Cupcake was happy to demonstrate that it possible, if your cat has the right temperament.
At the end of our conversation with the neighbor, Cupcake got very squirmy and started complaining. I took her inside, and she headed straight to the litter box. She hasn’t figured out that all that grass is good for taking care of business, even on Poop Island!
The adventure closer to home was a success, and we will have to get out in the neighborhood more often.
Cupcake: Hi, Mr. Pierre! Have you seen my springs?
Pierre: No springs here. Just my box, sorry.
Cupcake: The humans said we were getting new springs in the box with the cat litter.
Pierre: Well, do you see any cat litter? I don’t look like cat litter.
Cupcake: You’re kind of round like a cat litter bag. Like the bag I saw the manpeep take out of that box earlier.
Pierre: Round? I’m not round.
Cupcake: Never mind. That box looks comfortable. Can I come in?
Pierre: No. It’s a single-occupancy box, and I was here first.
Cupcake: But I want to get into the box.
Cupcake: Ready or not, here I come!
Pierre: Paws off my box, kitten! * HISS *
Cupcake: Did you HEAR that language? Mr. Newton! Mr. Pierre is being mean to me!
Newton: What did you do to the kid?
Pierre: Nothing! I just said this was my box.
Cupcake: My springs! I see them! He was hiding them the whole time!
Newton: Oh, Pierre, you didn’t.
Cupcake: He did!
Pierre: I’m getting ganged up on here. Can’t a cat enjoy his box in peace?
