Summer’s Fabulous Cat Life

Cat Model, Therapy Cat, and Cat Lifestyle Expert

  • Home
  • Diary
  • Kitty Wisdom
  • Catinees
  • Store
    • Cat Beds
    • Cat Stuff for Humans
      • Cat Calendars
      • Cat Gifts
      • Cat Jewelry for Humans
      • Cat Stationery
      • Cat T-Shirts
    • Cat Trees, Towers and Furniture
    • Designer Cat Collars
    • Interactive Cat Toys
    • Litterbox Furniture, Cabinets and Covers
    • Scratching Posts and Cat Scratchers
    • Special Items for Special Kittys
  • Advice
  • Book Reviews
  • About
  • Contact Summer
    • -Advertise Here!
  • Privacy Policy
  • Fan Club
You are here: Home / Advice / Advice—August 2010

Advice—August 2010

July 27, 2010 By: Sparkle Cat22 Comments

Dear Sparkle,
My human brought me home from the Humane Society about three years ago and for the most part, it’s been pretty nice here. When I first moved in, there was already another, older cat, but we quickly made friends. Last year, she became ill and died, and things were sad here for quite a long while. But then a couple of weeks ago, my human came home with a kitten. Not a real young one — she is probably around four or 5 months old, and she is a terror! Don’t get me wrong — I like her, and she can be a lot of fun, but she also keeps invading my space. Like, she’ll take over my favorite afternoon sun patches, or she’ll try to eat my food once she’s finished with hers (that little squirt can put away the food, let me tell you!). Worst of all, she tries to sleep next to my human at night, which is my spot! My human knows it’s my spot, so she will push the kitten away, but before I even get a chance to relax, she’s right back where she shouldn’t be. Between my human and the kitten messing around, it’s starting to disturb my beauty rest! Do you have any suggestions about how to get this kitten settled down? And my human too, for that matter. They both are getting on my nerves!
Signed,
At Kit’s End

Dear Kit’s End,
Such a joy, breaking in a new kitten, isn’t it? Especially for a nice cat like you, who doesn’t want to dampen her high spirits — and you are suffering all sorts of petty annoyances as a result. Add a human to the mix, who is clueless about the right way to deal with a kitten and you have a perpetual source of frustration. Actually, in this case, I think your human may be easier to manipulate than the kitten. In fact, I’m sure this is true. The kitten is easy enough, really. Just let her continue to do what she’s doing. She’ll eventually get bored of your sun patches and your special spot on the bed and find her own places. And if she doesn’t, you can always, shall we say, encourage her to find them once she’s a little bigger and closer to you in size. So really, she is only inconveniencing you for a little while. Your human, on the other hand, is not helping things because she’s wasting time fretting over the kitten’s behavior, trying to get her to move (which is useless), and generally attempting to control a situation over which she has no control whatsoever. Since she seems to be stressed out over inconveniencing you, I suggest that you milk that for all it is worth. Instead of trying to grab your place on the bed, go into another room and sleep there. Your human will think you are sulking, or depressed and she will do all sorts of things to make you feel better — pay extra attention to you, bring home new treats, maybe buy some toys or even a new cat tree. You don’t even have to work it. Just let the kitten have her way and go off and curl up in a ball. Your human will imagine the rest and act accordingly. By the time the kitten’s a year old, you should have all sorts of great perks that you earned by doing… nothing! Meanwhile, the kitten will have matured and stopped being so annoying. Of course your human will think that she helped things along. She didn’t, but if I were you, I would let her take credit. You may get more new stuff if she thinks it is making a difference.

Share2
Tweet
Pin
Buffer
Pocket
Email
2 Shares
* * *

Subscribe to my blog posts here!

Summer's 2023 Monthly Wall Calendar My New 2023 Calendar is out! Get it here
Check out the rest of Summer's merch at her her Zazzle Designercat Shop

Comments

  1. WillOaks Studio says

    October 19, 2010 at 10:44 pm

    You nailed this situation and the psychology perfectly, Sparkle!! We have this still new feline threesome here, and I, the clueless human involved, was played like a fiddle! After all…it WAS three to one here! And I confess, I want everyone to be happy. Well, the bothersome youngster DID bring a major food upgrade to the household for all us…so maybe it was worth all the drama.

    Reply
    • Sparkle says

      October 20, 2010 at 12:42 am

      I get the feeling that your three kitties will never have to ask me for advice!

      Reply
  2. Sam says

    August 5, 2010 at 5:28 am

    i enjoyed this post. i like your idea of a blog, so clever and fun. sparkle has lots of character. i like her a lot that’s all i can say 🙂

    Reply
  3. Lin says

    July 28, 2010 at 6:56 pm

    I think my Grace wrote that letter. Hmmmmmm…..

    We went through 2 kittens before Hobbes. They both died of mysterious heart issues and died very young. I swear Grace “offed” them both.

    Reply
  4. Crazykittykat1 says

    July 27, 2010 at 8:46 pm

    Wow, you are purrty and smart too!

    Reply
  5. Raymond and Busby says

    July 27, 2010 at 7:21 pm

    Great advice! We may have to practice it if our Moms adopt any new kittens, which they have been talking about for months.

    Reply
  6. BeadedTail says

    July 27, 2010 at 12:04 pm

    You are such a smart kitty Sparkle! We like your advice but we hope we don’t get any kittens around here to try it out on!

    Reply
  7. Katnip Lounge says

    July 27, 2010 at 11:02 am

    Sparkle,
    You are the smartest Cat we have ever, ever met. This is excellent advice!

    Reply
  8. The Kool~Kittie~Krew says

    July 27, 2010 at 10:28 am

    Wow Sparkle~ You sure can give wonderful advice! Ann Landers had BETTER watch her back with you around!!!

    Reply
  9. Amy & The House of Cats says

    July 27, 2010 at 8:15 am

    Wow Sparkle that is great advice! And boy, that letter sounds like our house – so we think we will try your advice too!

    Reply
  10. Toby & Leia says

    July 27, 2010 at 6:50 am

    Pawsome advice as usual, Sparkle. We’re sure this will help Kit’s End.

    Reply
  11. The Meezers says

    July 27, 2010 at 6:38 am

    we haf the same issue with Nicky – he’s a TERROR

    Reply
  12. The Island Cats says

    July 27, 2010 at 6:37 am

    That’s some excellent advice, Sparkle. Humans are so easily manipulated!

    Reply
  13. Harry Spotter says

    July 27, 2010 at 5:56 am

    I had the same problem with Fiona when she moved in. She took over all my favorite spots and has not given them up. So I had to find new spots. Hang in there!

    Reply
  14. Jacqueline says

    July 27, 2010 at 5:44 am

    Purrfect advice, Sparkle…Have a great day sweetie…xoxo…Calle, Halle, Sukki

    Reply
  15. Hannah and Lucy says

    July 27, 2010 at 5:22 am

    If we put our heads together and plan a strategy we could both win extra treats and the odd prezzie – we’ll practice our pitiful looks this afternoon and take it from there – Thanks for this valuable know-how!

    Reply
  16. Marg says

    July 27, 2010 at 5:00 am

    That is great advice Sparkle. The depressed look always works. We just need to keep these humans straight and let them know the priorities.
    Have a great day.

    Reply
  17. Sniffie and the Florida Furkids says

    July 27, 2010 at 4:47 am

    Excellent advice, as usual!

    Sniffie and the Florida Furkids

    Reply
  18. Pandafur says

    July 27, 2010 at 3:51 am

    You iz so smart Sparkle, that iz xcellent advice!

    Reply
  19. Daisy the Curly Cat says

    July 27, 2010 at 3:16 am

    Hey, I am going to try this myself with Harley!

    Reply
  20. casbahkitten says

    July 27, 2010 at 3:02 am

    Great advice! Hmmmm, sounds a bit sneaky though. . . . . .

    Reply
  21. Fuzzy Tales says

    July 27, 2010 at 2:26 am

    Sparkle, you give excellent advice! Certainly sulking and looking depressed works like a charm for us–our human can’t resist us when we pull that, and fawns over us, as is our due. 😉

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Follow Me Here!

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Get Summer’s Newsletter!

Stay up to date and get subscriber-only exclusives!

My Zazzle Store!

Buy from Sparkle's Zazzle Store
T-Shirts, cards, mugs and more!

Summer on Video

Copyright © 2023 ·