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Thursday, September 17, 2009

Game of Cat and Mouse

While visiting a pet store and watching the mice run around and around on their little wheel, I had a moment ... a bit of an epiphany. The piped in music died away. I swear one mouse held eye contact with me; he even had this look on his face like, "Yep. This is what it's all about." And I thought ... that's pretty much what my life is like, too. Wake up, breakfast, errand or playdate, lunch, naptime, laundry, unload dishwasher, blog, craft or activity, dinner, bathtime, bedtime, blog, sleep, and do it all over again!





And while the cat's away, the mice will play ...

Our trip to the pet store wasn't just for mice watching (and epiphany-having), although NHV could probably do that for an hour or so. We were also buying presents for our kitty man's birthday. Louie, newly four years old, got a cool corrugated cardboard scratchy thing - with catnip - and new bowls for water and food because his seemed a little disgusting. Natalie took such pride in helping me choose Louie's presents and carrying them to the check-out. Louie was so excited - almost kitten like - when we arrived home with our presents. Natalie and I sang "Happy Birthday," I sprinkled the catnip on the scratcher, and Louie had himself quite a celebration!


I really should've grabbed the camera and documented the moment. After all, a cat only turns four once in his life, right. But I didn't ... yes, I am a bad kitty mom. So I dug through my photo files and discovered that we haven't really taken many pics of Louie since ... before our firstborn joined the family ... imagine that :) But here's one of Louie sitting in the new glider in what would become Natalie's nursery. It was a favorite nap spot for a long time.

Now, Louie takes most of his naps in a basket on top of the refrigerator - away from the noise and hubbub. That's where he is right now. And between CPV's legs at the foot of the bed is his favorite place to sleep through the night. He also demands a spoonful of moist food as soon as we get out of bed in the morning. Other than that, he's a super chill, tolerant cat ... who sometimes acts more like a dog.

We've decided to keep him an indoor cat, and sometimes I struggle with that decision ... because all the neighbor cats prowl around and taunt Louie through the open windows. I wonder if Louie is sad being stuck inside all day, everyday? I wonder if Louie feels an awful lot like the mouse on the wheel, too?

10 comments:

Go Zesty with Dee! said...

I don't know, I think being an indoor cat is not a bad gig: you get fed like a king, nap when you want, get attention when you want, play when you want, nap in the sun (well when it comes out in Seattle area), and then watch all the other poor saps outside who don't get treated nearly as well :-)

Oliver'sMom said...

I'm sure he appreciates not being coyote food...Even here in Bellevue on a crazy busy street like 148th and a heavily populated area like Bridle Trails (yet another reason our two boys don't go out), we have coyotes. Like in my 8x10 foot backyard. Looking in my slider, drooling at the sight of my cats, so close yet so far away...I'm sure you have loads of them up on the plateau. Heck, you even have bears! LOL. Looking back on Loki and Maui's photo file, there are about 700 images before June 2007, and NONE after June 2007...

MommyBrain said...

Well, D, when you put it like that ... what does Louie have to complain about; I mean seriously?!

And yikes, Carrie, you've got me scared to even go outside after dark!

Mira is triplet crown said...

I think indoor cats are fine. We give them far more rational human thought than they possess. They enjoy the view out the window just fine. Don't find more reasons to feel like a guilty 'mom' as we all have far enough!

supahmommy- somethin's wrong with that girl said...

and you my friend.. just earned a very very special award from me. I don't give it often. I"m emailing. it. :)

YOu posted about your cat. :)
You can join our club now.
You must now wear a sparkly kitty cat shirt as punishment. :)

xoxoox

actually steve and i laughed about your ponderings .. and louie.. being taunted.at the window...

like.. what are the cats saying..

BOY DID WE HAVE SOME FUN WITH THAT!!! I can't say them here. But I am crying.

lmao

supahmommy- somethin's wrong with that girl said...

Louie possibly made it onto my post for tomorrow.. he's famous. I'll blur his face. lmaoooo

Epiphius said...

I have 1 indoor cat and 1 in/outdoor. Maybe I'm giving my cats too much credit, but I think it's dependent on their personality. :) Now Louie just needs one of those mice in a wheel to keep him full, I mean entertained all day.

Evonne said...

Oh, the wheel of life! I have one, too!

Happy birthday Louie! I don't think he's longing to be outside. I think he's showing the other cats how lucky he is and trying to make them jealous!

Jacquelyn said...

Yay for being a responsible cat owner! Just as I would never let my dog roam the streets unchecked, modern domestic cats should not be constantly outdoors either. Most people don't realize that, which is why I am constantly cleaning up THEIR cat's poo out of MY yard. Blegh. :)

Raising Z and Lil C said...

Happy Belated Birthday Louie! BTW I too feel like I am stuck in that same mouse wheel most days :)

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