Hunter's Turn

Oh Hi ! Me was thinking about peoples today. Me not understand why peoples do somea things they do ? To me peoples funny. Like why Mom brush fur on head alla time ? Why Mom take alla fur cloths off and get in shower and get wet ? Why peoples outside get into car things and go away ? Where they go ? When Mom go away, her go to work place. Where is work place ? Me not know.
Some time Mom make me mad ! Me want soft yarn Mom bring home. Mom tell me "No,No." But, me Want yarn ! Nice yarn. Mom go away, me play with yarn. Me have alla fun with yarn. Was pretty when me was done. Me think it was. Mom not think so.
Me not likey be told, "No,No." Me say, "Me show you Mom." That why me take yarn.
Mom take away old litter box. Get new one. Not look or smell the same as old one. Mom say, "You go in new one." Me not think so. Me tell her, "Not likey new litter box." But, her not listen. Me go on rug. But, me have to "go" so me has to use new litter box.
No peoples play with me under Apt. door any more. Make me sad. Me still hear peoples out in hall. Me say, "Here me is, come play." Nobody listen to me. Nobody come play. Me still lay on little rug by Apt. door and listen to peoples in hall. But, play by meself now.
Me not get into cupboards any more. Find new place to take nap. In bottom of closet. Nice place.
Me think it's time to eat now. Mom almost done with laundry. Me go now, say "Bye-Bye."
"Mom, oh Mom, warm up foods in big box thing please." "Mom, you hear me ?"

Hunter is slowing down.

Either that or he's pacing himself. Hunter doesn't just "get into" stuff......he destroys stuff. He's chewed up my flip-flops........clawed up my rugs.....lost some of my Scruggs.........tangled my yarn........& scratched the cupboard door.
I had to put a child-proof lock on the cupboard door where I keep the small trash can. There are very deep scratches on it now......& he can still bang it a Little. He doesn't bother with the other cupboards anymore....just the one with the lock on it. I think he does half of this stuff because he gets mad at me.......for whatever reason in his little Kitty-cat brain.
Some of us at work pooled our money to buy yarn...to make this one woman a Baby Blanket for her Baby Shower. I crochet all the time. I make Chemo Caps & Angel Blankets. Any who......they gave me the yarn (to make the blanket). Hunter decided he not only wanted the plastic bag....but the yarn too. Hunter has been taking his afternoon naps in the bottom of my closet........where I have a big bin full of yarn. I had to get the bin to keep him out of the yarn. Well, instead of putting the yarn inside the bin.......I put it on top of the lid. Yeah, dumb me.....what can I say. Hunter kept pulling the bag down.....& pulling the yarn out......& sleeping on it. The last time he did it......I got so mad.....I bopped him on the head with a roll of the yarn......& yelled at him, "Stay out ! Bad Cat."
Then one afternoon when I came back up to my Apt. from helping serve Lunch......there was yarn strung all over my Apt. & Hunter was sitting in the middle of it...looking very proud of himself......like he was saying, "Look what I did Mom." There was pink,blue,mint green & yellow yarn all over everywhere. Under the bed.......under the living room chairs.......under the TV stand......under the dinning room table & around the chair legs........inside kitchen cupboards......around the toilet.......I mean all over. I just kept thinking......OMG-OMG-OMG ! "How could ONE cat do all this ?" I had to cut most of it up to clean it up.......Then run out to Hobby Lobby to buy more yarn. When Hunter goes on a tear...he doesn't do it half way.
Like I said....I think he does most of this stuff to get back at me. Like the fight we had over the Water bowl. When I first got Hunter......I would put fresh water in his bowl......& he would tip it over. So, everyday it was.....fresh water.....tip over. I yelled at him, "Stop doing that !" I thought I fixed him when I got a Pet Self Water........HA-HA-HA-HA. I came home from work & the thing was laying on it's side...in a small lake in the middle of the kitchen floor. So, we went back to fresh water...tip over.......but Hunter added a twist. He would put his 2 front paws on the edge of the bowl & look at me. When I would say..."Don't do it, don't you do it." Flip.....over the bowl would go. I stopped putting water in the bowl.......till he started "Meowing" for it. Then I started filling it again......& Hunter hasn't tipped it over since. Like everything else......once I stop yelling at him about it.......he stops doing it....like a spoiled child.
Hunter has a new "thing" now. Every time I clean his litter box & put fresh litter in it.......he scoops some out onto the rug the box sits on...& poos in that, instead of the box. As I clean it up I ask him, "Why are you doing this ?" Then after I clean it up...he goes in the box. Gees !
Hunter doesn't bang the cupboards much anymore.......push the silverware into the sink (which was very annoying)......claw up the rugs......or eat flip-flops.
He is slowing down. He's been napping more. Some times I worry about my Baby Boy. But, the Vet says he's fine. He'll be 4 in Dec. So, I guess he's just getting older...growing up. But still there are times I miss finding a half eater flip-flop or a roll of tangled yarn in the recliner.

You know you are a Crazy cat Lady when.....

You believe there is no such thing as a naughty cat. I have Hunter remember....He's not a bad boy, just a cat.

You set a place at the dinner table for your cat. I don't know when this started.....but, Hunter even has his own chair as well.

You refer to going to the bathroom as "using the litterbox." I actually said this at work a few times...once to my Boss.

You refer to your cat as your furry child. Hunter is my "Baby Boy".

You apologize when you step on a fuzzy cat toy in the dark. Yes I have.

You meow so well, you confuse the cats. I love the look on his face when I do......& if I'm in another room Hunter comes running in......some times he will even answer me.

All of your clothes have cat hair on them, even when they come back from the laundromat or dry cleaners. What can I say. When I wash my work apron.....as soon as I take it out of the dryer......I seal it in a zip-lock baggie.

All your social activities revolve around other cat people Your voice isrecognized by your vet's receptionist. And, she always says right after I tell her MY name....."Oh, Hi Hunter's Mom."

Kiss your cat more than 10 times per greeting. Hunter hates it...but, I do it anyway.

Onlookers grimace at the sight of you sharing your sandwich with your cat, bite for bite. And, there's nothing better for Hunter than sharing a good old Ham sandwich with me.

The highlight of your day is spending time with your cat. I can't wait to get home from work at night.

When you need someone to talk to, your cat is your first choice. Hunter & I have long conversations. He never tells anyone what I've said.....& he's a good listener.

While proudly showing off your family album, your guest asks, "Isn't there anyone else in your family besides the cat?" Sadly, no there's not. I had the guy in Photo at work ask me that when I took in film to get developed. All the picture were of Hunter.

You have little songs that you sing to your cat. to the tune of "Pussy Cat, Pussy cat." by Engbert Humperdink. "Hunter cat...Hunter cat how are you...how do you do ? Hunter cat....Hunter cat I love you.....you & your Hunter cat nose."

Your cat sleep on your head. Purring away.

You give your cat presents and a stocking at Christmas. Doesn't everybody ?

You put off making the bed until the cat gets up. Or I make it anyway...with a cat lump in the middle.

Lintwheels are on your shopping list every week. I have 6 of them right now in the Apt. & 2 in my locker at work.
yup, crazy cat lady......me !

Hunter's Turn

Oh Hi. Me just relaxing today. Mom some time bring plant into Apt. Me likey the plant and flower. Smell like outside. Make me think of outside. So, me really likey big green plant. Have to sniff alla time. Smell like dirt outside.

Me really likey plant with little yellow thingys. Me sniff. Oh, Mom bring plant with candies on it. Good yellow candies for me.

Not likey red head cactus plant. Me say, "Bad plant." Me get bad plant. Not likey plant with big leafs on coffee table. Me get bad plant.

Big green plant can stay. Good plant. Nice plant. Smell like outside.

Me wish me could go outside some time. Mom, say "No."

Some time Mom not let me do what me want to. Her say, "Stay out of cupboards." Her not let me play with phone. Mom not let me play with cable wire, Man play with cable wire. Me want to play with cable too. Mom not let me be on dresser. Alla good things are up there.

What me suppose to do ? Me not know ? Alla time look for things to do or play with. So, me play with big green plant. Is fun.

Mom moved alla toy mousey again. Me tell Mom, "Stop that." But, Mom not listen. Have to spend alla day putting Mousey's back where they go.

Me go now say "Bye-Bye" Hard work being a cat and putting alla toy mousey's back where they suppose to go. Nap time. "Mom, you take purple Mousey out of cardboard box." "How me suppose to take nap without purple mousey."

Hunter likes Plants.

I have this one friend....she likes to give people plants as gifts. Now, I like plants & flowers myself.....but, so does Hunter.
One Mother's Day, my friend gave me a Mini Rose bush.....a yellow one. It was very pretty........until Hunter decided it was also good to eat....& ate all the small yellow roses off of it. He picked off all the little rose blooms....not the leaves. It never bloomed again after that. He Must have ate the roses.......because I could never find any of the peddles. I felt like Jimmy Stewart in "It's a Wonderful Life" looking for Zu-Zu's peddles.
Then I bought myself a Moon cactus. It had the red glob on top. cactus like a lot of sun. The only window in my Apt. with a lot of sun........is Hunter's window. I guess he didn't like sharing........because he would not leave the poor cactus alone. And, you would think the crazy cat wouldn't mess with a cactus because of the sharp thorns. But, there it was...out of the pot...in the middle of the living room floor when I came home from work.......& Hunter looking at me like he was saying....."yup, I got it."
I have a small table near the window with a plant on it. This plant was given to me by another friend when I first moved into my Apt. .......as a sort of "House warming" gift. It's 2 plants really....& I don't know what they are. When I first got it.......it was small. But, I kept putting it into bigger pots......& now it kind of takes up the whole table. On his way up the chair to his place in the window.....Hunter has to stop....sniff the plant...play with the leaves......check out the dirt......& just mess with it in some way. So far.....Hunter has decided this is not a good plant to eat. Unless he nibble on a leaf once & didn't like the taste. So, it's pretty much the only plant I have.
For my Birthday my plant giving friend gave me a Cactus dish garden. It has a Moon cactus in it & other little cactus plants. One cactus had a small pink flower bud on it.......& very long sharp thorns. I thought sure Hunter wouldn't bother it. I was excited to see the small pink flower bud open. It never got a chance........Hunter picked it off. Now I keep checking it to see if any more buds will grow.......so far, nothing.
Then my friend (& I forget just why) gave me a big Rainbow (color) Elephant Ear plant. It's all green-pink-white & red. So, pretty. I put it on the coffee table. Everyday I find another leaf of the plant on the floor........Hunter has been pulling them out.....one by one.
My friend told me for Christmas she was thinking of giving me a Christmas cactus. I asked her if she could just give me a picture of one instead........it would last longer around Hunter.

Hunter's Turn

Oh Hi, you back again. Me likey see you. Me likey peoples. Peoples friends. Me alla time try make friends. Some peoples no likey be friends with me. Me not know why. Me likey them anyways.

Mom go out Apt. door in morning, her say, "Be good boy." Me alla time good boy. Just likey to play alla time. Why Mom not understand that ? Me not know.

Lady come to Apt. her pick me up. Me likey that. Her smell like other cat and doggy. Lady talk to me and pet me. Me purr. Me happy. Then lady open fridge. Me tell her, "Ham in there, give me Ham please." Her not listen. Mom hear me. Mom give me Ham.

Why peoples not hear me when I talk ? Me not know. Some time Mom hear me. Me talk alla time, but nobody hear me. When Mom leave and not come back for long, long time. Me hear peoples in hall under Apt. door. Me say, "Help me, me alone, find my Mom please." Peoples not listen. No bring Mom back. Me has to wait.

Mom alla time try to brush fur. Me say, "No, No" Not likey fur brushed. Me clean cat. Clean fur meself. No need help. Me big boy. Mom brush fur on her head everyday. Silly Mom.

Me go into bathroom with Mom. Has to check, make sure she not use my litter box. It OK Mom never do. While her sit there and do nothing, me think, "Her can pet me or play with me." Mom not likey that. Her alla time say, "Go play." when her sit there.

Me tell you peoples something. Listen to you cat. When him talk to you, listen to him. Him talk to you, maybe want something or need something. Hear what him say to you. Mom alla time talk to me, and me alla time talk to Mom. Me know what Mom say.

When Mom read book at night, her not pet me or play with me. So, me have to hide book. Me play trick on Mom. Me hide under bed and pull rug under bed. Funny Mom. Me likey play tricks on Mom.

Me go now, Mom come back from laundry room. Make dirty cloths clean. Not likey clean cloths. Not smell like Mom. Me go now, say, "Bye,Bye."

"Mom, Mom, why you make cloths clean ?" "Keep cloths dirty, Mom,Mom, you hear me ?" "Mom, me have Greenie treat please."

Hunter is my cat.

Hunter is a friendly little guy. He's a real people kind of cat. He loves people.....even if they don't love him back. Hunter & the Maint. man have always went head to head....& it has been Hunter's goal in his little kitty cat life to win the Maint. man over. It never happened (sigh) the man was just afraid of cats. Now the Office staff....that's a whole other can of tuna. The Apt. manager came to my Apt. to check my stove, fridge, toilet & smoke alarms. She picked Hunter up & carried him around....he was in kitty heaven. When she was looking at the fridge.......that woke Hunter up. I could hear his little cat mind screaming...."HAM...HAM....HAM in there." She had a fight on her hands to close the fridge door.........Hunter was having none of it........He wanted HAM ! To calm him down, I had to give him a piece.
Now, every time I head to the bathroom......some times doing the bathroom jig....Hunter is always right behind me. I once told him..."Buddy, if you don't get out of my way, I'm going to pee on your head." He wasn't impressed. So, I always have a cat watching me pee. Some times Hunter will rub up against my legs while I'm sitting there......"Meowing" like he's saying, "Pet me." Some times he will curl up in my underwear...which is annoying. Once he even brought me his "Fetch" mouse....Gees ! But, when Hunter uses his litter box.......he looks around to make sure nobody is watching.......& if I come into the bathroom while he's in the litter box......he will run for the hills.....& come back when I'm gone. And, if you don't put "Tidy Cats" in the litter box.....for get it ! Hunter will not use the box at all. How does he know ? I've often wondered what he did when he was in the Shelter ? Hunter had a littler box in the cage with him. Did he hold it until everybody went home ? Did he hold it till I came along ? I don't know. It's just little things like that, that make me wonder about my boy.
Hunter loves to be petted...held...hugged......& pretty much loved on. But, what ever you do......don't get that cat brush out. It's a fight to brush him.
I bought a thing called...The Love Glove. It's like an oven mitt, with brush teeth on one side. You put it on & pet away. Well, thinking this was an answer to getting Hunter brushed.....I tried it out. Of course he had to sniff it first. "See Hunter.....it's just my hand....here let me pet you." You would have thought I tried to set him on fire. He ran away like mad. And, that makes me wonder about him too. Why ? Why, doesn't he like to be brushed ? I still have no clue.
It's all these little things that make Hunter......Hunter.
Last night while I was sitting on the bed reading.......I happened to look down at the floor....& seen the rug disappearing little by little under the bed. And, I could have sworn I heard him giggling. While I'm reading at night...if I have to get up........when I come back.....Hunter is laying on the book. Every time. I have to reach under him to get the book back.
Hunter is playful.......loving......& a little annoying. But, that's my Hunter. I just don't know what I would do without him......answering my phone......getting into my cupboards........unscrewing my cable.......putting things under my Apt. door (speaking of which, this morning there was a red Trix cereal in the hall, which I stepped on.)........going to the bathroom with me.......covering up my book.......taking stuff off my dresser.........& playing with my DVDs (He likes to pull them off the shelf).........eating my plants. Oh I could go on & on. I love my baby boy....he puts a smile on my face every morning. He's always there when I'm feeling down.