We returned from our short vacation this afternoon. Typically when we've been away for even a night or two, we find evidence that the cats were bored while we were away and made a mess of something they normally would ignore. This time was no exception. Two refrigerator magnets were on the floor, and I still haven't found one of them. Several misplaced objects suggested somebody had climbed onto the forbidden territory that is James' desk. Amazingly the instructions for our pet-sitter (thanks, Lisa!) were still on the table. Most everything was were it belonged.
Almost.
When I greeted everyone, I noticed that Velcro's tail and rear legs looked odd, like they were wet. She didn't seem keen to clean her tail well, either. I theorized that maybe she had urinated on herself or had draped her tail in the water bowl. She didn't look sick, though, and I didn't see any diarrhea in the litter boxes. I fretted.
Then I went to clean their room.
I saw an object that I initially dismissed as stray belt or luggage strap or maybe an odd strip of velcro. When I looked at it more closely, I discovered it was the strip of fly paper that had been hanging over the sink in the kitchen before we left, now covered in cat fur. Brown tabby striped fur. Velcro-colored fur.
It will probably take a few days with the flea comb to get the stickiness out, especially since the comb tugs uncomfortably and she runs after one stroke. Fortunately the fly strips are non-toxic, but evidently my youngster failed to read the label which clearly states "keep out of reach of small children and domestic animals." She qualifies as both. I know that I'm likely to find a new location to hang one next time we see fruit flies in the kitchen so this doesn't happen again.
I'm sure she was scared and tore through the house in terror when her new favorite toy attacked her, but I have to laugh at my silly Velcro who lives up to her name.
Almost.
When I greeted everyone, I noticed that Velcro's tail and rear legs looked odd, like they were wet. She didn't seem keen to clean her tail well, either. I theorized that maybe she had urinated on herself or had draped her tail in the water bowl. She didn't look sick, though, and I didn't see any diarrhea in the litter boxes. I fretted.
Then I went to clean their room.
I saw an object that I initially dismissed as stray belt or luggage strap or maybe an odd strip of velcro. When I looked at it more closely, I discovered it was the strip of fly paper that had been hanging over the sink in the kitchen before we left, now covered in cat fur. Brown tabby striped fur. Velcro-colored fur.
It will probably take a few days with the flea comb to get the stickiness out, especially since the comb tugs uncomfortably and she runs after one stroke. Fortunately the fly strips are non-toxic, but evidently my youngster failed to read the label which clearly states "keep out of reach of small children and domestic animals." She qualifies as both. I know that I'm likely to find a new location to hang one next time we see fruit flies in the kitchen so this doesn't happen again.
I'm sure she was scared and tore through the house in terror when her new favorite toy attacked her, but I have to laugh at my silly Velcro who lives up to her name.