“I got cat class and I got cat style. I strut right by with my tail in the air.” - Stray Cat Strut
I often write about the confounding, deeply personal ways animals impact my life. Some, however, have teased me (albeit gently) about my propensity for seeing lessons and messages under every blade of grass and in every whisker twitch. They have a point.
So I have decided to declare today, “Just Because Monday.” I have no deep insights or thought provoking topics to share - just two large sheets of brown paper and two precocious cats who’re moved to mischief by the fact that I want to sleep during the dark and delicious early morning hours.
The sheets of brown paper are two feet by four feet (yes I measured) and completely unremarkable. They arrived crumpled and tucked around a box of cat food I orderd last week. Just as I’ve done countless times before, I opened the box, pulled out the paper, and tossed it aside. Within sesconds I heard loud crunching, growling, and tearing sounds behind me. I turned to find the cats leaping straight up into the air with paws and claws extended. As they landed with weighty thumps, they began scrambling across the paper’s surface in pursuit of whatever was running for its life beneath it.
Since the presence of other critters could not be ruled out, I went to the kitchen, retrieved my cooking tongs, gingerly grabbed the edge of one of the sheets of paper, and pulled it from beneath cats. Nothing. But of course the cats saw this as a new and delightful development in the game of stalk and slaughter the paper. Sigh…
Some Thoughts at 3:00 AM
These two sheets of paper are the cheapest, most environmentally friendly, and long lasting cat toys I’ve ever purchased. The fact that I had no idea I was purchasing them when I ordered cat food makes it even more satisfying.
All companies that wrap their merchandise in sheets of brown paper to avoid damage during shipping should be required to print warning labels on the outside of their boxes. WARNING! Handle With Care - Cat Triggers Enclosed.
Do not, and I repeat do NOT, attempt to pick up, remove, or otherwise reposition the sheets of paper when cats are in the room. Cat scratches are painful and slow to heal.
Do not shout, “NO!” or any other expletives when your cat awakens you at 3:00 am for a game of, “Put the Paper to Death.” Your neighbors will thank you.
DO invest in a water spritzer. I am not a fan of disciplining cats by spraying them with water. However, when silence and sleep are mandatory, desperate measures must be taken.
It’s YOUR Turn!
I consume endless hours of content about animals. So I know I’m not the only one with tales to tell. Please share you stories, photos, videos, and links to your favorite animal sanctuaries, rescues, and general all around good people who understand that animals are family (yes, yes I know I couldn’t resist one little lesson). Here are some of mine:
Vet Crew: https://www.facebook.com/vet.crew
Colby’s Crew Rescue: https://colbyscrewrescue.org
Donkey Draft Rescue: https://www.donkeydraftrescue.org
The Asher House: https://www.theasherhouse.com/
The Gentle Barn: https://www.gentlebarn.org/
Rocky Kanaka: https://www.facebook.com/rockykanaka
Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary: https://www.facebook.com/OldFriendsSeniorDogSanctuary
The Red Mare: https://www.facebook.com/RedTheMare
The Elephant Listening Project: https://www.facebook.com/ElephantListeningProject
Laila’s Legacy Animal Refuge: https://www.facebook.com/LailasLegacyRefuge
Tetiana Kopytova (inSpirit): https://www.petfamily.com.ua/en
Animal Cracker: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalCrackerDrDoug
The Pongo Fund: https://www.thepongofund.org
Break the Chain Kennel Kru: https://www.btckennelkru.org/how-to-donate
TAPS: https://tapsusa.org/
Kitten Academy: https://kitten.academy/
P.S. Please note that not all of these are directly about rescue. However, I believe that the more we know about and learn to cherish and protect other creatures the happier and healthier we all will be.
I can’t wait to hear your Just Because stories!
I also cheerfully accept one-time donations. Just click on the donate button below to be taken to my PayPal page. Thank you!
Copyright 2023 by Jena Ball. All Rights Reserved.
Kitten Academy on YouTube is so addictive, they also have a Patreon for the dyed in the fur ailurophiles.
Summary: husband and wife in CT take in pregnant cats, gives them safe space to birthe their kittens, then fix them and adopt them out. Also adopt out the kittens when they're old enough.
Plot twist: wife is a doctor, so we see the househusband interact the most with the clowder. That's what drew me in.
(Website: kitten.academy)
Delightful!
It works for kids as well. The longest-interesting toy my kids had was a kitchen-appliance cardboard box repurposed by them as a playhouse.
PS: Pulling the blankets over my head to curl up in the gap-less space may not stop the feline body kneading, but it suffices to allow for a few more hours of sleep.