Kitty Christmas
Every Christmas, I have a certain amount of guilt at the upheaval we inflict on the cats. We are busily running around buying things, making things, wrapping things, and doing all sorts of stuff to give to friends and family (and each other :). What we are not doing, however, is anything for the cats, who are usually just stressed that we're away so much, and that we're so distracted (and nerve-wracking -- we're dangerous with those cooking implements!) when we're here. This year, of course, was a bit more tense because of the fact that we're still working the fifth cat into the mix. Although it's mostly going well, not everybody is completely back to normal.
The Burlington cat show happens in early January every year, and I've decided that that is the real Kitty Christmas. I get to buy them their presents (fresh catnip logs! new soft beds! :) and bring them home for them to unwrap. This year, our friend BP went as a vendor for his new cat-feeding system, so we went on Sunday afternoon to hang out with him, and I got lots of shopping done amongst the cat-ogling.
The best part is the unwrapping. We come in, put the bags on the counter, and watch as, one by one, they figure out that the packages are for them. Meerkat is usually first on the scene, the most diligent when it comes to tracking catnip. She usually finds and extracts all the catnip logs, which I then distribute to the other cats, who are wandering around with noses twitching, sure that something cool is up but not sure where it is. Meanwhile, Meerkat has a great time appreciating the packaging, and likes to roll in the bags the stuff came in. :) A good solid half-hour of catnip-log frenzy then ensues, which tapers off eventually to a few visits a day. This year, I bought some catnip spray, so I can "freshen-up" the toys again later. :)
The Burlington cat show happens in early January every year, and I've decided that that is the real Kitty Christmas. I get to buy them their presents (fresh catnip logs! new soft beds! :) and bring them home for them to unwrap. This year, our friend BP went as a vendor for his new cat-feeding system, so we went on Sunday afternoon to hang out with him, and I got lots of shopping done amongst the cat-ogling.
The best part is the unwrapping. We come in, put the bags on the counter, and watch as, one by one, they figure out that the packages are for them. Meerkat is usually first on the scene, the most diligent when it comes to tracking catnip. She usually finds and extracts all the catnip logs, which I then distribute to the other cats, who are wandering around with noses twitching, sure that something cool is up but not sure where it is. Meanwhile, Meerkat has a great time appreciating the packaging, and likes to roll in the bags the stuff came in. :) A good solid half-hour of catnip-log frenzy then ensues, which tapers off eventually to a few visits a day. This year, I bought some catnip spray, so I can "freshen-up" the toys again later. :)