Because I am a mad, reckless person who laughs in the face of global financial collapse, I spent £5.99 the other day on a cat mat in Tesco supermarket. As I went through the checkout, I reflected that this was probably a waste of money. Then I went home and put it on the floor.
Cassie instantly threw herself upon it as if it were her long-lost lover. She rolled on it and rubbed her face ecstatically on it. Then she discovered the furry ball on the elastic string. Ah! her long-lost teddy!
Cuddly! Delicious!
A perfect fit!
Then Sirius came in. He loved it too. He licked the ball thoroughly.
Never were there two happier cats. They might like prawns even better than their mat, but it's a close thing. And ... I hesitate to say this, but... Cassie almost seems to prefer it to the sofa as a medium for sharpening her claws. At least it's an alternative. Happy woman: clean oven. Happy cats: bit of mat with furry edge and furry ball. It all goes to show the importance of matching the gift to the recipient.
I think that mat has paid for itself already.
ReplyDeleteI am still laughing. Fancy not having to buy a cat mat apiece! Getting someone in to clean the oven is a great idea. Sheer brilliance - in the old sense of the word.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed, a gift the cats actually use and enjoy, hope I can find the same mat for sale here!!
ReplyDeleteReally? a cat mat? and they liked it?? do I need to track one down now or continue to let my two scratch the hall mat and any furniture I don't shooh them away from? is it scented with something?
ReplyDeleteJust sometimes the magic happens! Finally, a cat toy/post/bed/treat is accepted and sometimes loved for a long time.... (but mostly it doesn't)....
ReplyDeleteIf it begins to pall, and if you can find a little pump-spray of catnip (try online or major pet stores), you can give that mat a little shot of it every now and again, and lo! the magic returns!
Must track down one of those for our cat visitor.
ReplyDelete:)
ReplyDeleteThe joy of small things..... :)
Do they do these for human grown-ups? I don't play enough.
ReplyDeleteHahaha -- you're too funny! Now, next time I come to Scotland, I'll have a souvenir I can bring back to my kitties!
ReplyDeleteI saw a little blurb flash by on the telly last night about Scotland and Wimbledon and thought of you, knowing you're a fan. I'm assuming you're a happy fan this year???
Absotootly! Great pics - ha!
ReplyDeleteSo cute! I love watching cats play with things. Topsy gets herself tangled up in my cloth(?) supermarket bags when I leave them on the floor. She ran into the kitchen with one over her head the other night; it is a miracle she didn't bump into anything!
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely, untypically appreciative and compliant cats they are. Normally you would have to put the mat somewhere like the mantelpiece with a vase of flowers on it to attract them to it with such enthusiasm.
ReplyDeleteRe the oven cleaning, I don't think it is too decadent at all to pay someone else well for doing a job for you, it rewards initiative and gets money moving around. It's not like buying a new oven because the old one's got dirty is it?
Lovely flowers too...
Sorry, that should probably be 'atypically'. I tried to write 'uncharacterisitically' but it looked all wrong. Still does.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could find something like this for Morty. He snootily refuses to claw the scratching post we bought him. He still prefers the base of our new bed. Along with the odd bite and scratch of my arm!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could find a nice person to come and clean my oven! What a hideous chore it is, when one can no longer kneel!