Previously, Gary was dismayed the cat was doing an acrobatic leap over the basement steps.
“Goldie, please don’t do that: you’re going to die. “
Gary realized that he had no control over the cat’s urge to leap, cats-gonna-cat, so he decided to switch his approach. Instead of discouraging the leaps, he encourages the leaps. That way Goldie gets to practice, and the chance he will tumble drecreases.
Thus my work day is often interrupted by the distinctive sound of Goldie scrabbling up the last inch of the wall, then Gary gushing, “Goldie, you are so strong! Who’s the most athletic cat? You are! Yes, you are! ” Then Goldie gets pets and treats and praise heaped upon him, as we do in this house.
Goldie now sees this as his job. Nine or ten times a day he does this trick.
I only mention this because this morning at three a.m., he meowed so loudly it penetrated my earplugs. I took them out and called across the house, “Goldie, are you okay? ” Then I heard the scrabble and thump. I came out and there he was, on the ledge, testing the limits, evidently.
He did not get treats and praise.
2 responses to “Cat Will Require Therapy”
Treats and praise can be applied for during Human Waking Hours Only, and the sooner a cat learns this, the better for all involved! (… but good luck with that)
KC – Gary sleeps so much that I doubt the cat knows what a normal human sleep schedule is.