I was tickled to read fellow Area Voices blogger Abra LaMente’s recent blogs on the Cat Hater’s Club (http://www.areavoices.com/abrelamente/). I am personally a lover of all creatures (even though I love many from “a far” – very “a far”). Most days I am a lover of cats. I have a long history with cats. Indeed, I have had a cat in my life for as long as I can remember.

My mother indoctrinated me into the world of loving all creatures big and small and I believe I have done the same with my children. Of course, loving all things does not mean they need to live with you or even be in your vicinity, it just means you do no harm.

As I have made clear in my blog in the past, I am not a fan of reptiles (even though I am the “grandparent” to a few via my son Cory and I admit to a relationship or two with men who turned out to be snakes – but perhaps that is defaming snakes…hmmmm…move on). At any rate, even though not a fan, I wish no creature ill will and as such I appreciate all the folks in the world who make the effort to help creatures.

But I digress, the point was cats and the love of cats, and as I said, the fact that most days I love cats. Most days. The reason I love cats is simple – they have personality and are independent. The reason I love cats less some days is simple – they have personality and are independent. Case in point – Stinky McFadden.

Stinky came one day as a grandma babysitting responsibility and never left. When he arrived he was creatively named Apartment Kitty as he was a stray that Cory and his girlfriend had picked up wandering around the apartment. Well, long story short, Apartment Kitty never went home. Cory said he was too wild and destructive and thought he would do better at my house.  Cory has since been removed from the will.

So Apartment Kitty, who in the beginning seemed nice enough, barring a penchant for room-clearing gas, became appropriately Stinky McFadden. Stinky eased us into his craziness. The first thing he decimated was my Shoji screen. He used it as his personal climbing wall. His favorite time to climb was in the pre-dawn hours. I consider the fact that I didn’t expel him from the house during that period one of my most notable exercises in restraint.

Soon I realized what Cory’s issues were with Stinky. As he settled in at my house Stinky became an ungodly terror. He was into mischief every waking moment. I began to live for the day that he was neutered. I theorized that this would have a mellowing effect. Well, it slowed him down for a day or two, but that was it.

It was post-neutering that he started gaining weight. He is now a very big cat, but no less wild and crazy. Since the decimation of the Shoji screen Stinky has chewed, clawed, or otherwise destroyed the following (mind you, the following is merely a sampling):

1. Boots (three pairs so far – he loves to chew the toes on leather boots – even while they are still on you – which is how he came to be launched a distance one day as his tooth made contact with my toe);

2. Binders (too many to count – most of my binders have teeth marks);

3. My leather desk chair (he runs from across the room and leaps onto the top where he lounges with half of his body plopped on either side;

4. My students’ papers (while he typically just tries to shed paper on occasion he will actually digest it);

5. The sofa, chairs, wicker items, walls (if he can get a stretch and claw moment in he will);

6. My leather jacket (yep, he clawed it up- and he lived to tell the tale);

7. Balloons, rubber bands or anything of that ilk (he is obsessed with these items which he considers to be his personal toys – all such items must be in secured drawers, cabinets and closets or he will spend his entire day trying to get at them); and,

8. Books (he loves to chew the covers).

You can imagine that I have bellowed many a day, “STINKY!” Yet, I must admit…when he is not being the cat from hell he is as lovable as the day is long. Unfortunately, when he is happy and content is when he has that room clearing gas I mentioned.

As I said, most days I love cats…but I have not checked my new boots yet today.

Day one hundred and seven of the new forty – obla di obla da

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