Fickle Feline Essentials

"My cat never touches her scratching post," I heard a shopper saying, as I was browsing cat supplies and gadgets. My cat, Cloe was introduced to her first scratching post, with a teaser toy on a string. Waving it slowly above, then "draping" it behind the post, as she pounced, embracing the post with gleeful "meows." For awhile, it was the attraction of the day, when she set out "attacking" it and recurrently scratching furiously. When the post was replaced with a new one, it never quite gained her favor.

Cloe's arrival was unexpected, so her feline essentials had humble beginnings, a plastic Cool Whip bowl, one for her tuna and one for her water. And she made no complaints. A flea collar followed, by which she came in "cobbled" with her leg through it, of which I could only imagine how. She was covered in sticker burrs, hence a comb and brushes. On a brief night excursion, when she was attacked by another cat, this ensured vet visits, and soon a pet carrier. But most of all, came the awareness, that for her safety, she had to be kept inside.

The "showstopper" followed. On bringing in a litter box filled 3 inches with quality clumping litter, Cloe proceeded to happily "roll" in it. "This is not good," but not to fear, just on initial introduction, her expressing, "I'm home." Two more boxes followed each a little larger, as she sometimes builds a "pyramid" when she covers. At her size, 14 pounds, space is good. Liners, she has no issue with, though some cats do not like them. And without saying, "scooping" is done daily.

I ordered a summer "cot" and a catnip refillable scratching pad with an illuminated ball in a circle around it. Of the 60 percent of cats that respond to "catnip" Cloe definitely is one. She was ecstatic, rubbing, sitting, laying on it and holding it in her paws. Even sleeping on it several days, this was more than the common reaction to catnip. Interest in the "scratching" nor ball never developed. Pushed out of the way, languishing till a day, a year later, I heard her pushing the ball. Now she scratches and plays, letting out piercing meows, as she scurries across the pad, "chattering" at her "prey."

When it was the desired "destination of the moment," she began her repose on the Summer cot. Her Winter bed is a spongy, cozy donut shape, she only seeks out in the Winter. There are infused toys where interest quickly dwindled, and her favorite, refillable toys, with the beloved catnip. Another favorite is a stand up brush, she rarely goes through, but without fail everyday, "grooms" her face. Another must have is the automatic filtered cat waterer, to keep a fresh supply of water oncoming.

Flea collars were replaced with a more reliable once a month topical "spot on" treatment. There is always some new feline toy or snuggle den, a pretty ceramic bowl and placemat, just some "feline essentials." And Cloe has more hair brushes than me.

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