Sunday, January 30, 2011

Taking the High Ground

We don't have a cat tower; it is surprisingly hard to find a good one in Brooklyn, and shipping costs are too high for ordering over the internet. So we keep a rickety wooden ladder up in the bedroom, and our nimble wards enjoy playing on it. Mr. Beans' favorite game is when he sits on top of the ladder, I swing the mouse on a wire toy near him, he grabs it, puts the mouse in his mouth, then jumps off the ladder, gallops down the hallway and into the living room - my job is to chase him and cry, "where are you going, where are you going?!".

The Beansie game reminds me of one of the funniest scenes Ronnie every witnessed. When Beansie was a very small 5 month old, I had some take-out food that included a rolled-up pita bread. Beansie grabbed the pita in his mouth, and I started chasing him around the apartment because I didn't want him to eat all that white flour. The roll was almost 1/2 his size at that point. With the size perspective, and his relatively small head, he looked like a saber-tooth tiger running with a huge bone. He hid under tables, ran around the back of chairs, and I'm yelling at Ronnie to help block him, but Ronnie was too busy laughing his head off at what I admit was a very comic scene. In the end, Beansie jumped with it into the litter box. Suffice it to say, no pita for me or the Bean.

Aaaanyway, yesterday we had to move the ladder to the kitchen. Beansie somehow got up on the high shelf above the cabinets and was nervous about coming down. We thought he could jump to the ladder, but Lola decided to go for the block. The moment after Beansie made his way down, Lola went up to claim the space and Beansie played on the ladder.

You can just see Shelagh's wonderful cat art calendar in the background of the first and last photos.










13 comments:

rachel said...

What a pity about the cat tower - the Monstrosity, as ours is called, is worth its weight in gold simply for saving the furniture!

But a ladder is always good too.....

Susan said...

gorgeous photos ... we don't have one either but Oliver has insisted a put that project on the Prince's reno project list ;-) Ladders will suffice
xo S & les Gang

love those cupcakes said...

Love those cats! We don't have a tower either so Buzz jumps onto the top of the doors. And occasionally falls off.

Two French Bulldogs said...

Thanks for the instructions. We will have to try that
Benny & Lily

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Such cuties!

I bought a nice cat tower at Petco at 2343 Utica Avenue, near Kings Plaza. It's worth the money as my cat like to claw at it and sleep on it. It's also a good spot to put him on to groom him, as he's a long haired cat and needs to be brushed everyday.

Carola Bartz said...

Your pictures are wonderful - and the cats as well!!! Enjoyed this very much!

Lorraina said...

Loved reading about the adventures of Mr. Beans and Lola. Pavel has a big heavy monstrosity like Rachels little 'uns and he loves it for his 6 hour naps. He hasn't used the center section hidey hole for a awhile maybe cuz i've got rolled up art papers jutting outta there...i have a serious art supply storage problem but the monstrosity fits in nicely beside the computer desk. I love listening to him snore all snuggled down in his sleeping bag on its top while i'm computing.

Diane said...

Hey Kate, loved those fotos. Never had any luck with Cat Towers or scratching posts for that matter. Maybe our cats have been weird but I wonder if the Rickster might enjoy the tower or is he just too jaded.

sim only contracts said...

I bought a nice cat tower at Petco at 2343 Utica Avenue, near Kings Plaza. It's worth the money as my cat like to claw at it and sleep on it.

Carola Bartz said...

Hey Kate, this post was posted a month ago. I haven't seen anything from you since. Are you okay?? I couldn't find an e-mail address, so I have to post this here in the comments. I hope you are okay!

Kate on Clinton said...

Aw, thank you Carola! I was on the road and then hit with major projects at work (which I LOVE!). I hope to get to posting in the next week or so. I'm really touched you noticed and asked after me!

aliceinparis said...

Mr Beans and Lola could be related to Monty! So beautiful and I spy with my little eye, a familiar image:)

this too will pass said...

love those kittens