Animals are smart

[antof9]

When we first moved into our house and the neighbor's cat figured out we didn't have dogs (the previous owner had three!), he started roaming around in our backyard. Kind of a nyah, nyah, nyah to all those mean dogs who used to chase him off, I suppose. Well, we didn't really want him using our yard as a litter box, so Unk, master of noises,

Comments

[cmccurry]

First off: Welcome back. You have been missed.

Secondly: Not shocked with Twinkie's behavior. And don't think that threatening them with release into the wild will stop the behavior. Hamsters never listen.

[antof9]

Thanks -- that's sweet :)

And good to know. Because "threats" were actually going to be my next move.

(love your icon!)

[antof9]

hee hee! And I've never had a Hostess cupcake!

Our late, great Gizzie (a guinea pig) used to reject all the kernels of corn in her food.

[jessibud]

She'd eat whatever else she wanted but leave the corn, which of course, is supposedly a *favourite* of guinea pigs and a real added feature of the good stuff. Go figure.

And talk about picky. When we'd give her fresh fruit and veggies, she also was pretty finicky. A definite yes to green grapes, carrots, celery, lettuce, and red apples, but NO to green or golden delicious apples, red grapes and pretty much anything else gps are supposed to like.

And I won't even get started on my cats.... (though, to their credit -- or maybe mine -- they stay indoors.)

I'd never have pegged you as an animal person, not even an animal babysitter. Though to hear that Unk chased the cat, barking and growling, somehow doesn't surprise me... ;-)

Re: Our late, great Gizzie (a guinea pig) used to reject all the kernels of corn in her food.

[antof9]

hee hee! Your original peg was absolutely correct. I am NOT an animal person At All!

In fact, Neighbor Mom had originally asked me to feed Bones and water flowers. Not a problem. Then the night before, Neighbor Daughter asked me about Twinkie. As she's asking me, I'm thinking, "I guess I can feed a hamster, right?" Then she said, "you need to play with him a couple times a day," and I interrupted her. "You're asking the wrong person. I don't like animals. I can't play with your hamster!" She finally decided Twinkie could go without being played with for a few days ... as long as I talked to her!

Of course, I felt sorry for Twinkie, and asked Unk to go over there with me to hold her. And also to show me how to open her cage so I could feed her. Little things like that.

Gizzie sounds like a rock star, making you pick out green M&Ms :)

You laugh, but when no one was looking, I actually used to pick out the corn kernels for

[jessibud]

her... (shhhhh!) ;-)

I recently put up pics of the Rock Star on my FLickr. From the week before she died, right before school ended; it was the last *Gizzie time* for the kids.

Re: You laugh, but when no one was looking, I actually used to pick out the corn kernels for

[antof9]

LOL! She really was a rock star!

I'll have to go look -- I bet the kids loved her :)

[antof9]

hee hee! It occurred to me that you (the collective) could read it that way after I posted it :)

[anonymous]

This is too funny...and now I want a Twinkie.
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