Sunni’s 10 M Poop Dash

How Toilet Training the Cats Provides Cardio Exercise

My youngest kitty, Sunni, has not fully grasped the use of the toilet for her #2 business. Very good at hitting the john for # 1. And MeiMei is a star pupil who does both as expected. But this little story is about Sunni.

While toilet training the cats, I have noticed that Sunni has often been reluctant to poop in the toilet. I can usually tell when she needs to go though as she does this little chirping sound and is quite restless. When this occurs, I keep an eye on her because I now know what the issue is.

Yesterday Sunni did not poop at all; not in the toilet nor elsewhere in the house (thank goodness). So I knew there would be some intestinal activity this morning. When I got up, Sunni immediately went in the cat bathroom (how frigging spoiled are they?) and dutifully peed. She received her bonita flakes treat and then it was MeiMei’s turn. Success.

Within a minute, Sunni was chirping like crazy. I would pick her up and put her on the pot (just like potty training a child). But no go — literally.  Sunni would jump down, run upstairs and start pawing at the carpet in the living room. I would follow her (running up the stairs too), and attempt to grab her. She’d run her little route through the living room, in one corner, under the stool, behind the papasan chair, to another corner, and then I would catch her. I carry her back downstairs to the toilet and place her on the pot.

Of course, she would not do anything except chirp, jump down, and start the whole  10 meter dash again — with me hot on her tail. After a couple of rounds of this, I could tell she was getting a little frantic so I made sure I was right there to catch her. At last, I placed her on the pot and voila!!

I ran up and down the stairs several times, around the living room several laps, and bent and stretched multiple times. The Sunni 10 M Poop Dash certainly got me up and moving for the day. What a way to kick-start the day!

Will probably do it again tomorrow morning, and the next, and the next….

Can’t wait until this race is over and done with.

Toilet Training the Cats # 6

(To start at the beginning of the cat toilet training, see the Category CaTT)

After a couple of weeks of reasonable success, I decided to make the opening just a smidge bigger. I’m talking about one square inch bigger. Not all that of a change. Here’s what happened.

MeiMei: " Are you sure this is the same potty? That opening looks really big. Maybe it is a different potty. Let me look."

MeiMei:" I don't know. It looks and feels different."

MeiMei:" Hmmm, I can lay down in it. I didn't lay down in the other one."

MeiMei:" Sunni, what do you think? Doesn't it look different to you?"

Sunni: "Don't bother me with your stupid potty comments."

Sunni: " Geez!! Just leave it and me alone. I don't care!"

Sunni: " Guess I better check it out. (darn MeiMei)."

Sunni: " Holy Litter Box! It is bigger! I can even put my paw down that opening. Ewwww -- it's wet down there."

MeiMei: "Told you! I don't know why that litle whipper snapper won't listen to me."

Fickle Friday #6

Here it is the 2nd Friday in September and school is in session. I dropped my daughter off at college on Monday. She has figured out what she needs and has greatly reduced what she takes to her dorm room. This picture is her side of the room with much of her stuff. Her roommate (Japanese exchange student) arrives tomorrow. I’m sure they will be busy getting to know each other.

Now at home it is just me and the kitties. Speaking of the kitties, they are hanging in there with the toilet training. I was so excited yesterday when they both left presents in the designated spot. Tonight I opened up the little hole just a bit. Seems as if I have to take every change very slow. Sunni is the problem child and apparently hates change. So slowly we forge ahead.

The news chatter had such an interesting story about a moose who was eating fermented apples. Poor little guy apparently got a little tipsy and was got stuck up in the tree. This unusual act captured everyone’s attention as I received several e-mails about it and it has hit a few blogs I read too.  So here’s my addition to all this moose attention. This photo was taken from a window at my work. There are often moose at work (if the plural of mouse is mice, is the plural of moose, mece?) I have family that lives in the country and the moose often visit,once even stepping into their swimming pool to cool off. Several years ago there was a mother moose and calf outside of my daughter’s school entrance. We had to wait in the car until mom and kid wandered elsewhere.

My tomato plants are kicking into high gear. They are ripening up quite nicely. I’m guessing that the chillier air in the morning is contributing to the ripening. Since I have a black thumb, this is one of the first times I have had success with my tomatoes. I’m thinking that Mother Nature decided she had punished me enough and is getting my hopes up with this little bumper crop.

As I’m sitting her on the computer (no, I’m not physically on the computer), I’m watching The Invention of Lying with Ricky Gervais. Such a little unpretentious movie that I’m chuckling every minute. The man is a genius!

Winter is on its way. How do I know? Because tomorrow my snow blower is going in for maintenance. That means that when I get it back, I will be prepared. And based on my tomato crop, I’m thinking Mother Nature has me in her sight. And because I have a snow blower, I will need to use it.

Kind of hard to even think of snow because right now it is hot!  And I’m in need of ice cream!