Last night, Goldie again made a big production of caterwauling from the basement. Now that I know the drill, I immediately went down there. He led me to the same corner. I saw what I thought was the same species of tiny-winged flying beetle bug, only twice the size. Not moving, clearly dead, knocked on its side.
“That’s so weird,” I thought, “If I didn’t know better I’d say that was a baby cicada. Of course, we don’t have cicadas in the basement.”
I threw a paper towel over it. It buzzed. It was a cicada. No other animal makes that obnoxious sound.
I stomped it into cicada paste and wiped it off the cement as best I could. I imagine Goldie wanted to show me the kill, but too bad, my instincts kicked in just like a cat’s.
And then, I cheered and praised the mighty cicada hunter. We want to reinforce this behavior.
6 responses to “Goldie: Continues to make an effort”
… “of course, we don’t have cicadas in the basement”: definitely on the “famous last words” list.
Also, yes, good to reinforce desired behavior. Even with cats, sometimes…
KC – They go in search of tree sap, though. No tree sap in the basement.
Just because it isn’t there doesn’t mean they can’t look for it there…
(maybe that cicada was an explorer thrown off by the scent of turpentine?)
KC – Nah, all turp is sealed,up. I thought he might have used the mouse hole from the garage to the top corner of the basement. What for, I don’t know.
Maybe that was the One Cicada that has a shy bladder and was looking for a restroom?
KC – Hah! My god, to have a shy bladder, what heaven.