House of Swank

Teaching An Old Cat New Tricks

I completed Samson's cat bed about a week ago, and am happy to report it's a success:

Knitting Details
Pattern:  Dotty Cat Bed
Yarn:  Ella Rae Classic
Colors:  2 skeins - Beige (#105) 1 skein each - Lavendar (#12), Dark Green (#110) and Dark Brown (#17)
Needles:  Size 9 - Denise kit with a 24" cable to start and Brittany double points to finish
Notes/Modifications:  I followed the pattern, with the exception of the needle size, and ended up with a LOT of excess fabric in the base of the bed.  Some of it came out in the felting, but there is still enough left over (you can see it from the top view) that if I had it to do over again I'd decrease every two rows rather than three.  I would adjust the stripes to align with the decreases, as that made it very easy to keep track of where I was.  I also think I could have gotten away with one ball of the beige (only used 15g of the second ball) and just eliminated the beige stripes in the center of the bed.  (I'm making a scarf of all the leftovers right now).  The yarn was a JOY to work with, and will likely become my workhorse wool of choice.  I was a bit worried about felting in my front-loading washing machine, but it went pretty quickly and felted well.

Cat Details:
When I first completed the bed Samson wanted nothing to do with it.  Which is what I suspected and feared.  With a bit of conditioning, he now spends a fair amount of time in the bed.  Here's how I accomplished that:

1. Took some fresh catnip and spread it into the corners of the bed.  Introduced the cat to the bed, and he was a wee bit curious, but still basically wanted nothing to do with it.
2. When the cat was laying comfortably somewhere that wasn't the cat bed, I would take the bed, place it next to him, lift him into the bed, and hold him in place, petting and loving on him while he was in the bed.  At first he would try to bolt, and I would have to physically hold him in the bed.  Eventually that turned into him not really enjoying it, but he knew that he'd get a lot of petting out of the deal.  Then, once he actually laid back down and stayed there for five seconds when I was done petting him.
3. Once we'd reached that stage and I found him lounging about, I'd put the bed next to him, put him in the bed, then walk away.  He'd hang out for a minute or two, often scoping out the catnip, and would hang a bit longer each time I put him there.
4. I threw the bed on the floor, in front of the heating duct in our room.  He decided to test it out in the middle of the night.

At first he would only use it if we weren't watching him - either asleep or out of the room.  As soon as we were aware of him in the bed he would bolt under our bed.  Now he hangs out in the bed and just looks at you annoyingly if you walk into the bedroom.  It only took a day or two to teach him what a cat bed was for, and I have to say I couldn't be happier.

Earlier today I was hanging out on the guest bed (the hardest place for him to jump up to) and he tried to jump onto the bed and failed.  I reached over to lift him onto the bed, but he bolted into the other room and his bed and has been chilling there comfortably ever since.  Precisely what I was hoping for!

For The Love Of A Cat

There's no denying that Samson is getting older. 

We decided to buy a second litterbox, so he would have one on both levels of the house, and the box in the basement hasn't been used since.

Yesterday Sweetie and I were watching TV in the guest bedroom at one point, and the cat tried to join us on the bed, and fell trying to jump up. 

So I've decided the cat needed a warm, cozy place near the floor to hang out.  Sweetie and I will lift him onto the bed if we're around, but that's not always a given.  So I've decided to knit a cat bed for him in colors that match the living room.  I got started late this afternoon and am into the second round of dots on the sides.  Hopefully it won't take me too long and I can train the cat to sleep there.

Creature of the Night

OK, we've been through the labels with my cat before:

• Psychic
• Homosexual
• Oedipal Complex
• Bullimic

But we may need to add a new one to the list:

• Vampire

He hasn't eaten any blood yet, at least that I know of, and hasn't gone for my neck yet, but the total aversion to daylight is spot on.  Granted, he's only been in the house for two days now, but once night falls he is more than happy to come upstairs.  Last night I couldn't sleep, and he actually came and hung out with me and followed me around while I did some unpacking.  Then snuggled with me on the guest bed while I was watching an episode of America's Test Kitchen.  But once the daylight comes it's down to the basement to hide away in some coffin he's got stashed somewhere that I cannot for the life of me find.

We Are Family

The SwankPoet family is now fully ensconced in the House of Swank, as we moved Samson in yesterday.

When we first arrived at the house fear and curiosity were his primary emotions.  We showed him where the litterbox and food were, and let him explore.  At first there was a lot of us following him around, but then we just let him to it.  For a while I sat on the couch in the family room while he wandered the basement.  He found somewhere very dusty, and emerged with fuzz hanging from his muzzle.  Then he found a hiding spot that I couldn't find.  I thought he might be back behind the furnace, but that was not the case.

We just let him be, and eventually he poked his nose upstairs to check things out.  He was not at all interested in us, but did enjoy checking out the surroundings.  At one point Sweetie decided that Samson was old enough that he wouldn't have the ability/desire to jump up on our bed, which is quite high.

Last night when we went to bed that cat proved us wrong on that.  Once we were safely snuggled in place, the cat joined us for the night.  From my perspective he was rather well behaved, and never tried to walk or sleep on my face.  He was also very accepting when I would roll over and oust him out of his position.

This morning, after Sweetie had left for the day but before I had woken up, the cat made it up onto my dresser, and stood there screaming for a few minutes.  I think it was fear of heights and wondering how he would get down.  I wasn't concerned, as he had obviously used the chair or nightstand to get up there, and could also easily jump over to the bed.  Once the cat realized I wasn't rushing to his rescue he shut the hell up.

He snuggled right up against me for a while, and really made it difficult to get out of bed this morning.  Once I was up, he was gone, and I haven't seen him since.  (Of course, I've been away from home for the last two hours, but even while I was there he was deep in hiding).

Overall, I take this as a glowing rave from the cat.  I was fully expecting him to hide for two days before he ventured out at all.  I think he's hiding during the day, just on principal, but then wanting to make sure we know of his love for us at night.

Adding To The List

We already know that my cat is:

• Psychic
• Homosexual
• Suffering from an Oedipal Complex

But tonight we added another one to the list:

• Bullimic

He's always had weird food issues.  Most recently being that he does not want anyone in the room when he is eating (which is difficult at my parents' place, considering they've got a great room layout at their home).  He also tends to puke a lot.  Tonight my dad commented that he always seems to puke as soon as he's done eating.

Yep, my cat likes to binge and purge.

Stuck in a Rut

The cat, he does not like change.  He likes sunny windowsills, dark corners to hide, and having the top of his head scratched.

He is also a very smart cat, so knows that something is up.  When Sweetie and I were preparing for a couple of recent excursions Samson snubbed us, knowing that he would be without us for a couple of days.

Now he knows something is up, but I don't think he quite knows WHAT is going on.  He just can sense it involves change, and has therefore let us know he is not happy with that.

Basically, this translates to lots of being other places, and when he is around being very vocal about NOT LIKING THINGS ONE LITTLE BIT.

Today I managed to grab him and explain to him that he would like the new house.  It has some GREAT sunny windowsills, a basement with lots of hiding spots, and tons of room for him to run around in.  The only thing he isn't going to like (but we aren't going to tell him about this bit yet) is that the food and th litterbox will likely be on different levels, meaning there will be no way for him to avoid the stairs.  He's suffering through that layout now, but he's getting older, occassionally walks with a limp, and there are times he is standing on the bottom of the stairs and WANTS to go up, but just has to summon the necessary will to make it up the stairs.

Thankfully, he is in a place he knows and loves now.  And will be able to stay here until we are sufficiently settled in the new home that he is not introduced to chaos.  Also, he doesn't know this yet, but he shouldn't have to go to the kitty hotel anymore... that was always a bit traumatic for him.

But, his brain is the size of a walnut, so getting all of this to sink in is really hard.

Gratuitous Kitty Post

I picked Samson up from the vet this morning, and he has spent the entire day telling me that he doesn't like vacations one little bit, wouldn't we rather just stay at home where we can scratch the top of his head?

Except I know he's being a drama queen, which makes it even worse.

I TRIED to pick him up at the vet's yesterday.  Except they were closed for Easter, which I didn't learn until I went to the vet's office.  (However, they did give us last night free, to make up for their snafu).  One of the kennel folk happened to be outside walking a golden retriever when I went by, and when she learned I was Samson's owner she said there was NO WAY I could get him yesterday, as he was a joy to have around and they wanted him one more day.

The first two times Samson was boarded they had to force feed him.  I mentioned that to her, and she said that he was a social eater.  Play with him, and then he'd eat fine.  I could tell they were taking good care of him, and that he had finally figured out that the kennel was the same as the vet's office, which meant he should be in his element.  (Reason #534 your cat is a psycho:  He LOVES being at the vet's office).

When I came to pick him up this morning he was squawking away in his cage, which seemed quite surprising to the kennel person who brought him out for me.  I think she was afraid I would suspect mistreatment from the way Samson was yelling.  When I explained she hated his carrier, and this would end as soon as he was allowed out, she got a look of relief on her face, and also mentioned that he was perfect all week long.

But today, he is expressing his displeasure.  He's finally quieted down, for the most part, but doesn't seem to be able to settle down quite yet.  He's probably just sad Sweetie isn't here to scratch the top of his head.  Once the two are reunited this evening, I'm sure all will be well with the world again.

Gratuitous Kitty Post

Samson's been whining a lot this week.  I think his psychic powers are letting him know he'll be at the kitty hotel next week and he's begging for attention.

Apparently, more attention than little ol' me can provide, so he demands the entire internets pay attention to him.

Sweetie and Samson's Relationship, in Graph Form

The Name Fits

I have read his poetry.  I go to watch him ref at least once a season.  But, until today I'd never seen TeacherRefPoet teach.  I'd seen him coach debate students, but that was somehow different.

Today I got to chaperone my first field trip.  Which, because so many parents wanted to chaperone the trip, meant I got to wander around a cool museum with my Sweetie for a couple of hours, while he stressed about students going missing.

But I also got to sit in on a book discussion this morning, before the field trip began, and come back to play the "Dictionary Game" with his students while waiting for the school day to be over.  This afternoon in class the students asked permission to quiz me, and permission was granted.

Their questions:
"Do you own a cat?"
"Does TRP call the cat kit-ty?"  (He says it in this VERY odd way that is impossible to convey via the internets)
"Does this annoy you?"

Then they were happy and we could get on with things.

Apparently, the students liked me.  And this was conveyed by the fact that whilst playing the dictionary game, one of the students cheated to help me earn a point over Sweetie.

The kids all seemed to be good kids, but I couldn't count how many times they used the word "like" this morning during the book discussion.