Sunny with a Chance of Clouds

I think my descent into this latest depression started in mid-June. I adopted a kitten at the beginning of July – a companion I needed just in time. I named her Annabelle.

One of her first toys was a flexible yellow tape measurer – the sewing notions kind. We used it because the end landed further away than a length of yarn when tossed. She likes to chase it and even roll around with it, seemingly trying to tangle herself in it.

I made a tunnel for her out of a box, and dangled the tape measurer at one end of the box. She likes to dive through the box to “catch” the tape. Very quickly, she figured out that if she came through the box from one direction, the tape always seemed to be at the other end. So she catches the tape, then walks to the other end of the box and pounces through the box again. And again. And again. She catches that tape measurer every time!

Annabelle discovered that she can pull the tape measurer behind herself. The first time she picked up the end and started walking, she seemed surprised to see it following her!  But she figured it out, and now likes to drag the tape measurer around the house. Sometimes she’ll pounce on it, like kittens do, “Ha!” Can you picture it? Her back hunched down, eyes wide and ears up, hind haunches wiggling just a little in excitement. Then, when she suspects her 60″ long prey isn’t looking, she pounces like the brave little kitty she is…success!  Tape measurer subdued!

Another early toy was an empty 12 pack box of pop cans. The kind where you just tear off the cardboard end and the cans roll forward as you pull one out. She likes to climb inside, pretend to hide, chew on the edges, even roll upside down or turn around backwards.

A few days ago, I saw her play with both toys, and it was adorable.

She dragged her tape measurer over to the pop can box. She climbed over it, at first draping the tape measurer on top of the empty box. Then she walked all the way around the box and laid the tape down. By now, there was a loop of tape at the closed end of the box.

Then she went to the other end – the open end where she usually hops in – and she crouched down to monitor her unsuspecting yellow prey. She sat up suddenly – she couldn’t see through the box! She sat up tall, and sure enough, her tape measurer was at the end of the box. It must have had its back turned toward her, because she hunkered down again to pounce through the box and catch it. But again, she couldn’t see anything. So she sat up tall again, saw it lying there, and half-heartedly jumped over the box and onto the tape. She seemed disappointed – her brave and daring hunt was pretty lame.

And I laughed and laughed! Pretty smart kitty, even if the game wasn’t quite as fun as she’d hoped. Love this little friend!