Incoherent Scribblings

Jungle Red

Molly and Her Jungle Red Toenails
Originally uploaded by blondelibrarian

When I adopted Dolly and Molly last summer in addition to regularly trimming their nails, I immediately started training them to use a scratching post instead of my furniture when they felt the need to sharpen their toenails.

My method for doing this was pretty simple. When they attempted to sharpen their toenails on my furniture I would firmly tell them “no” and physically move them to the scratching post. When we were at the scratching post I would then place their front paws on post and rub their feet on the post so they got the idea they were allowed to scratch it.

It actually didn’t take too long for them to realize that the scratching post was the preferred place to scratch because whenever I observed them scratching the post instead of my furniture I would make a fool of myself and lavish praise upon them. As a result, they began scratching the furniture less and less and the scratching post more and more.

However, even though they weren’t tearing up my furniture with their toenails I still had a slight problem: They were tearing me up when they would play and the scratching post wasn’t doing much good when they would chase each other around the house and use those nails to dig in when they launched themselves off the bed.

Therefore I started considering my options. The first option was to do nothing and live with the scratches and scars I was receiving from those regularly trimmed toenails. The second option was to have them declawed. While I am not really opposed to declawing (as a matter of fact my other two cats are declawed… but that is another post for another time) I feel that declawing them for my own personal vanity is rather selfish.

Since neither of the first two options was particularly appealing, the last option was to consider Soft Claws. Soft Claws are plastic “nail caps” that you attach to a cat’s claws that allow them all the benefits of retaining their claws but save the owner (and her furniture or appendages) the damage of sharp little toenails. After months of debating, a particularly nasty scratch that I received from Dolly a couple of weeks ago made up my mind: I ordered a batch of Soft Claws and they arrived in the mail a couple of days ago.

Soft Claws come in either a boring transparent variety or a selection of colors and being the crazy cat lady style-conscious individual that I am, I chose Soft Claws for Molly and Dolly in “Jungle Red.” I rather like them but since they have to be replaced as the cats shed their claws (on average every 6-8 weeks) I think next time we might go for “Purple Passion” instead.

Sink Play

Sink Play
Originally uploaded by blondelibrarian.

You may remember this post from quite a while back. Well, after two years and two additional cats, I still have not found an answer to the age-old question, “Just what is it about cats in sinks anyway?”

Yes, Molly and Dolly love to play in the bathroom sink and are especially “helpful” when the water is turned on.

As soon as they hear the creak of the hot water knob, Molly and Dolly race to the bathroom. They are especially interested in the sink when I am brushing my teeth or washing my face and Dolly has been known to stick her paw down the drain to try and prevent the water from disappearing. Molly loves to try and “catch” the water as it pours out of the faucet and usually ends up soaking wet.

Although they love the sink, the bathtub is very popular too. When they play tag, it is their favorite home-base and every morning I have to clear the tub of cat toys before I shower. Dolly doesn’t just sit on the edge of the tub while I am in there showering: Sometimes she will actually climb in and wait at the back of the bathtub until I am finished!

Usually I find Molly and Dolly’s bathroom antics quite charming: They make my morning and evening routines interesting to say the least and I can be found smiling most mornings and definitely giggling every evening.

However, I absolutely did not find it entertaining when they attempted to pull the stopper from the sink’s drain Monday evening while I was taking out my brand new contact lenses. These new lenses cost me a pretty penny and the last thing I need when putting them in or taking them out is to drop them down the drain as a result of “assistance” in feline form.

Therefore, cute as the may be, in order to thwart their water play and the potential loss of my new contacts, I am afraid I will have to start banning Molly and Dolly from the bathroom… for a few minutes each day at least.

Renée’s Home for Wayward Cats

Dolly was introduced to Mouse, Scooter, and Harley almost two weeks ago now. At first there was much hissing, but that has calmed significantly over the past few days.

However, I can tell that the battle lines have been drawn: Scooter and Harley don’t seem to care for Dolly much. Mouse, on the other hand, has accepted her so easily that I actually caught them sleeping within inches of each other this afternoon!

For those of you that know anything about my cats you will know this is a completely unforeseen turn of events. Though there are seldom out and out fights between them, Mouse openly dislikes Scooter and barely tolerates Harley. I still think that Mouse views Dolly as little more than common riffraff, but now she has an ally in the quest for feline dominance and it has been interesting to watch the dynamics developing amongst all four of them.

That, however, is not the only development at our home for wayward cats.

Step-dad caught Dolly’s sister Friday and brought her home too. I am not sure if he decided Dolly needed a playmate or if seeing that Dolly adopted me was looking for a kitten for himself, but one way or another, she was added to our brood and as a result, we now have Dolly and Molly.

Dolly will go with Mouse, Scooter, Harley, and me when and where ever I get a job, but I adamantly proclaimed that Molly will stay at home with Mom and Step-dad. I didn’t really need four cats… I definitely don’t need five!