Monday, September 29, 2008

The Crazy Cat Lady: Day 1

Mom and Dad are leaving tomorrow for a three-week trip that includes a cruise from Venice, Italy, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida...with all the fabulous stops between, of course. (I'm so jealous.)

Normally, when they go on a trip, they hire a local petsitting service to come to the house once or twice a day to freshen up the food and water, clean the litterbox, and check on Bella and Duchess. But with this trip being longer than most, they asked me if I wouldn't mind babysitting the Kindergatos in my own apartment. No problem!

And it really isn't. I helped raise the Terrible Torties from the day we brought them home. They know me, they know Millie, and I know they'll be fine once they get over the shock of being ripped out of their comfortable home today. I feel bad for them being scared, but...well, moments of hilarity ensued:

1. Kitty Korus

It took all three of us to strap the three cat carriers into my car, and the bawling that was going on gave new meaning to the word, "caterwauling." I've joked in the past that "Millie and the Kindergatos" sounds like a bad rock band. Well, I heard their whole album in the first 20 minutes of the drive, and I can say that they won't be going Solid Gold.

2. If Music Be the Food of Love (and Sanity), Play On...

I've noticed a trend with Millie in the car. If, for some reason, I don't have the music going, she cries, but generally, as long as I have music playing, she's quiet. I thought this must be a little quirk of a musician's kitty, but it turns out that Bella and Duchess, after the first 20 minutes or so, had that same vibe. All would be calm while the music was going, and they even got a free concert of me singing some of my greatest hits, like "Dreams" by the Cranberries, and a song by Billy Joel. But in between songs, in those few seconds of silence, the crying would start up again.

3. Oh, poop

Mom, Dad and I had a hell of a time catching Bella and Duchess today. Millie is an experienced traveller. She's pretty resigned to being put in her box. Bella and Duchess, however, are not used to travelling, so catching them once they realized something was up proved difficult.

When Mom finally caught Duchess, the poor little thing was so scared from being chased around the house that she pooped...giving literal meaning to the term "scared shitless."

It's not funny, and yet, it is. I have to admit I was laughing pretty hard as Mom carried a pooping kitty across the guest bedroom, leaving little turdlets from one side to the other. Poor Ducky.


I'm pleased to say that the girls appear to be okay. When I got them to my apartment, I brought Millie in first, then the sisters. Millie hissed at them (some hostess) and Bella and Duchess set off, crouched low to the ground, to sniff out their temporary home. They've taken refuge under my bed--just as I expected they would--and I am giving them some space to adjust. I have a feeling that in a few days, they'll be more comfortable, and perhaps more social.

In the meantime, bon voyage, Mom and Dad! Have a wonderful trip, and I'll be updating the blog from time to time with kitty stories and pictures. They're in good hands!

2 comments:

RvNGrammy said...

Bon Voyage from me to your mom and dad, too, Meg! You seem to have these adventures with cat-people. LOL

Miz Minka said...

"Oh Poop" reminded me of another cat post I read recently -- you might enjoy this! I used to have a cat that would freak out on her way to the vet's. Always pooped in the carrier, she'd get so scared.