Dear Sparkle,
I live in a big house with lots of places to explore and what’s even better is my human does not complain, no matter where I go — the kitchen counters, dining room table (which gets some great afternoon sun beams), and I even have my own pillow on the bed. Well… there is one place where she does put on her Loud Voice, and that is the China cabinet. For some reason she does not like it when I jump on the top of that. Every time she even sees me looking up there, she starts protesting! But I love it there — I have a great vantage point of most of the first floor of the house! How does my human expect me to properly supervise if she complains every time I get up there?
Signed,
Leaping Lena
Dear Lena,
Humans! Just when you think you have them well-trained, they start up with the bad behavior. I imagine that yours has things in the China cabinet that she considers either “valuable,” “breakable,” or both. Maybe (depending on your weight) she is also concerned that you could topple the whole thing over. She might even be worried that you will miss the top of the China cabinet and hurt yourself. Since (I assume) none of this has happened, it means your human is a worry wart, expending useless energy that is getting in the way of you doing an important duty: making sure all is safe in your world.
I really don’t get why humans think Talking Very Loudly is the best way to keep us kitties from doing something they disapprove of. Especially in instances like this one, where we are only doing what comes naturally — getting up high, where we are comfortable and can supervise. If she were a little brighter, she would realize the best thing to do would be to give you an even better perch from which to view your surroundings. Ideally, she would get some awesome cat shelving — the kind that is nicely curved and has cool scratchable surfaces. These are also decorative and pleasing to human eyes. But she could even put up regular old shelves up near the top of the walls — the kind where humans might display knickknacks, except instead of dumb statues and fancy plates, the shelves would belong to you. Then she could put staggered bookcases along the wall, leading like steps up to the shelves so you could easily climb up there for your supervising and patrol duties (and a good nap when you are done).
I get the feeling that no matter how much your human complains, you are not going to stop jumping on top of the China cabinet. So unless you can show your human this advice, you will just have to tune out all her yelling, but that is okay. Ignoring is a time-honored kitty tradition.
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Installed staggered shelves all around my large kitchen and another big room,keeps all happy.
beds on them match decor…So easy to do..so come on everyone hop to it….
Pawsome advice, Sparkle! Efurry cat should cabinet surf!
I agree, the best strategy is ignoring.
We like your advice, Sparkle. You think like us! We loooooove getting on top of things which are high, so high the Hoomans can’t reach us. Hehehehehe.
Excellent and sensible advice as usual Sparkle!!
It might be that there are thing ON the china cabinet that the Bein is worried about. If thats the problem, the Bein should remove those items immediately.
“Ignoring is a time-honored kitty tradition.” Once again, Sparkle, you’re so right.
According to Jackson Galaxy, the questioning kitty is a tree dweller. He says that is the happiest kind of kitty.
I was thinking the same thing when I read it – all the more reason for her human to invest in cat shelves!
“See, this is why we can’t has nice things” This time-honored saying is sooooo true! The best step toward the goal of improving your environment is to break enough “nice things” that the Human will put away or give away the rest and then there’s nuffing for them to worry about any more. Then you can do whatever you want. Easy-peasy!
When your human no longer has any “beautiful things” (except the kitties), then they are fully trained.
Brilliant advice, Sparkle! Tuning out is exactly what that situation requires!
uuummm…Sparkle…what do ya think about that kitteh just grabbing the staff’s plastic card thingy, hopping on line and getting whatever she wants???? just a thought…
We tune out the Loud Voice all the time! And on top of the china cabinet is one of our favorite places to go!!
Oh dear the china cabinet dilemma. Ping got up on top of Mom’s display cabinet that has all of porcelains and she freaked out. how Ping did it Mom isn’t sure but Ping is quite adept at doing the impossible. Good advise Sparkle.
purrs
>^,,^<
♥Abby♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥Grace♥
Whoa! Even though I’m allowed to jump on the china closet, I still think I need those cat shelves. Our ceilings are almost 16 feet high and I’ve yet to figure out a way to touch the ceiling
I can see it now…
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Real Sparkle
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You’re a natural, Sparkle.
xo, Katie
Such good advice yet again, Sparkle! However, humans are known to PURRocrastinate, so the problem will likely not to be solved quickly.
I have heard the publicist say she is worried when Sherpa the Farm cat jumps down from the walls in the yurt. She fears the jump will hurt him.
Oh yes, tuning out seems to work nicely!
At least she just gets the loud voice – our mom has been known to break out the water shooter thingie…..
Our Mommie is like that – but worse! No kitchen cabinets, no kitchen applicances, no kitchen table….I hate the word no!
Sparkle we see you think “outside the box” too but you’ll have to be careful or your Mum might think you are going to do a ***or a **** outside the box – that would surely bring lots of shrill screeches which could give you an even bigger headache!
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
You should go into interior design, Sparkle. We like the way you think.