Sorry I've been gone so long. A whole week between updates. That's just not right. It's not that I've been all that busy, to be absolutely honest. I've had more than enough time after work every day to type up something pithy, but I just haven't been in the mood. It's been a long week and I've been tired and increasingly frustrated about my day job. The most I've done after work is read a few journals and veg in front of the TV.

Not to say that I haven't had ideas or thoughts rolling around in my brain. I have, more than enough. Problem is, the ideas tend to crash into each other, causing them careen back into the hidden corners, then sit quietly until they decide it's safe to come out. Of course, when the thoughts get up to a full steam again, they start their entire rolling/crashing/careening/hiding routine. How's a gal supposed to latch onto an idea and coax it into a coherent essay?

However, something happened tonight which bothers me profoundly. After getting home from paging tonight (after 11pm), I sat at my computer, getting everything booted up and running. Edison felt the need to scratch at the kitty placemats around the water bowls. That's ok, I understand cats' inbred compulsion to attempt to eradicate any trace of scent after eating or drinking, no mattter how futile.

Unfortunately, the kittens have a tendency to knock over their water while scratching at the mats. Makes a horrible mess that I'm tired of cleaning up, quite frankly.

Since Edison was in easy reach, and the water bottle wasn't, I leaned over and applied a gentle tug to Edison's long fluffy tail, just enough to let him know, "Hey, careful there, buddy." He didn't even pause. So I tugged again, a little bit harder. Still no acknowledgement. Unfortunately, I let the frustration of week (and night) get the better of me, so the next time I applied a tug, it was not "just a little harder". Without thinking, I dragged the little guy across the floor, his hind legs actually lifted off the floor.

Suddenly I realized what I had just done and let go. Obviously I didn't hurt him, since he didn't even yelp, but that doesn't excuse dragging him. I've never punished any of the cats in such a way that pain is caused. Annoyance, perhaps, maybe even a brief burst of fear, but never pain. I just don't think that's a valid method of discipline. And here I came very close to inflicting pain on an eight month old kitten.

So I scooped up Edison and snuggled him and murmurred words of apology, despite his blatant distatse (he's not much of a snuggler), then I let him go.

Then I glanced at the water dishes and noticed that, in the process of dragging poor little Edison, I knocked over one of the bowls and spilled water everywhere. *sigh*

How could I hurt him?

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Tomorrow I'm taking the little ones to the vet to get all of their shots and physicals, because on Wednesday, well, Wednesday morning I'm dropping them off at the vet as manly kittens and when I pick them up that night they'll be meowing soprano. They'll hate me for a few days, but maybe Noel will stop hissing at them. Besides, judging by the smell of my apartment, they've started spraying and that's just got to stop.

Well, I'm still really tired and I've got to get up early tomorrow, so I'll sign off. I hope y'all had a Happy and Safe St. Paddy's Day, with a minimum of pinches and a maximum of green things.

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It's time for...

From the Robservation Archives

Rob's Pantheon of Pets