(no subject)
In order to set the proper context for this evening's tale, I must point
out that my cats are insane.
Vito, in particular, is constantly attempting to chase unseen phantoms underneath perfectly flat boxes. Sometimes these phantoms hide under my pillows. I know this because pillows that are not properly tucked under covers (or under my head) are regularly deposited on the floor by His Fuzziness. So it is not unusual to hear Vito pushing empty boxes around the living room floor, or to hear him "digging" next to boxes he can't move. It is, however, annoying when he won't stop.
So tonight, as my first and last foray into the world of "Alias" 1 was winding down, I realized I'd been ignoring the sounds of Vito digging rather intently at the floor next to my toolcase. "What're you doing over there?" He looked over his shoulder at me but didn't move for a few moments, then turned his attention back to the case and continued scratching at the floor.
I decided to demonstrate that he was chasing nothing. I walked over to the case and lifted one end, and in the nook between the case and the floor, I saw one of the cats' toy mice. "Huh," I thought to myself. "I wonder how he managed to get it stuck right--"
And it bolted across the floor.
I think I swallowed most of my yelp, but Vito was after the mouse before the yelp even started. I managed not to drop the case on him. It took Kaph all of three seconds to recognize the sound of Vito hunting and to join in. The mouse attempted to find refuge behind the boxes underneath the table, which I thought was a pretty solid plan until Vito trotted off quietly to the bathroom about a minute later. However, while Vito has proven himself to be a pretty respectable hunter, it seems he's not a terribly efficient killer. Of course, it's possible he wasn't trying, since not killing the mouse gave him an extra several minutes of hunting. The two of them had the poor thing trapped in the gaps behind the litter boxes and the wall, but they weren't always sure which one it was behind. A few times, it tried to run behind the toilet, but it quickly discovered that this was a losing strategy and retreated behind the litter boxes again.
Eventually, Vito managed to trap it again and had it pinned in the hallway for a while, perhaps trying to figure out what to do with it. After a bit of that, I managed to convince him to turn the rather abused little critter over to me, for which I traded the two of them a couple kitty treats, and I disposed of it.
The cats patrolled for more prey for a while, but they currently seem to be satisfied that no more is to be had. I'll have to respect their opinion on this if I'm going to get to sleep.
Notes:
1One of TiVo's 2 suggestions. I've suggested it not do that again.
2No relation to my cat.
Vito, in particular, is constantly attempting to chase unseen phantoms underneath perfectly flat boxes. Sometimes these phantoms hide under my pillows. I know this because pillows that are not properly tucked under covers (or under my head) are regularly deposited on the floor by His Fuzziness. So it is not unusual to hear Vito pushing empty boxes around the living room floor, or to hear him "digging" next to boxes he can't move. It is, however, annoying when he won't stop.
So tonight, as my first and last foray into the world of "Alias" 1 was winding down, I realized I'd been ignoring the sounds of Vito digging rather intently at the floor next to my toolcase. "What're you doing over there?" He looked over his shoulder at me but didn't move for a few moments, then turned his attention back to the case and continued scratching at the floor.
I decided to demonstrate that he was chasing nothing. I walked over to the case and lifted one end, and in the nook between the case and the floor, I saw one of the cats' toy mice. "Huh," I thought to myself. "I wonder how he managed to get it stuck right--"
And it bolted across the floor.
I think I swallowed most of my yelp, but Vito was after the mouse before the yelp even started. I managed not to drop the case on him. It took Kaph all of three seconds to recognize the sound of Vito hunting and to join in. The mouse attempted to find refuge behind the boxes underneath the table, which I thought was a pretty solid plan until Vito trotted off quietly to the bathroom about a minute later. However, while Vito has proven himself to be a pretty respectable hunter, it seems he's not a terribly efficient killer. Of course, it's possible he wasn't trying, since not killing the mouse gave him an extra several minutes of hunting. The two of them had the poor thing trapped in the gaps behind the litter boxes and the wall, but they weren't always sure which one it was behind. A few times, it tried to run behind the toilet, but it quickly discovered that this was a losing strategy and retreated behind the litter boxes again.
Eventually, Vito managed to trap it again and had it pinned in the hallway for a while, perhaps trying to figure out what to do with it. After a bit of that, I managed to convince him to turn the rather abused little critter over to me, for which I traded the two of them a couple kitty treats, and I disposed of it.
The cats patrolled for more prey for a while, but they currently seem to be satisfied that no more is to be had. I'll have to respect their opinion on this if I'm going to get to sleep.
Notes:
- Call the exterminator in the morning.
- Revisit household cleanliness/organizational standards.
- I am apparently squicked by wild mice.
1One of TiVo's 2 suggestions. I've suggested it not do that again.
2No relation to my cat.