The Sneaking Straw Stealer Strikes Again

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The Sneaking Straw Stealer Strikes Again!

One of Pandora's lesser mutilated straws!

Just a few weeks ago our six month old kitten, Pandora, learned that drinking straws were fun to steal and then play with. I guess it really just gets to her hunting instincts. The first couple of times I didn't catch her at it. At first she was just playing with straws, and I had to figure out where they were coming from. Around the third time, I caught her in the act...sort of.

I am confined to bed right now due to pregnancy complications. I was napping one day and awoke to a liquid coldness hitting my backside. I turned over and there was Pandora, our sweet innocent cuddle kitty, making off with my drinking straw. My glass of diet 7-Up was lying on its side, and its liquid was all over. Needless to say, I had to change my bedding.

As I made myself another glass of 7-Up I watched at how the bubbles made the straw bob up and down. I realized that this was just too much for our little kitty to resist.

Pandora is a blast to watch. She carries the straw all over the house with her. She throws it down and pounces on it. She takes them into her mouth the way I've seen puppies do and swings her head back and forth as if to "rip" the meat off the bone. Such seriousness involved in the stalking and killing of straws! By the time she is done with them (that is my decision and not hers) they are worn to the flat stage and no longer resemble a straw at all. They have lots of holes in them, and I usually find them next to her scratching post. I think she pretends that the scratching post is a tree. She will lay the straw on one side and walk away from it as if she expects it to run away, and then will suddenly turn and attack it from the other side of the post..."bad straw! bad! I'll teach you to try and run away!"

These events have taught me to use a lid on my drinking glasses. Try as she may our little wild tiger has not yet discovered how to get the straw away from that dreaded lid. I awoke this morning at about 4:00 a.m to make my usual visit to the girls room. Upon returning to my bed I found Pandora "stalking the straw." Obviously, she had gone through all the normal routine. My drink glass was on its side and in my bed! But, the straw was still stuck inside the lid and still attached to the glass. It was a sight to see indeed! Our kitty was in "pounce mode" ready to attack the straw the moment it moved. And yet, it seemed to me there was confusion in her face: "Why isn't the straw cooperating? GO STRAW! GO!"

I watched her for a few moments; it seems to me she would have waited an eternity for that straw to make just one move. I guess the straw knew that it had to be perfectly still or it would be pounced upon. :o) Finally, I took pity on our little cuddle kitty and I gave her my straw. I went to sleep listening to her play her games...the straw being tossed and swatted at.

Pandora, Caught in the Act!!

November 6, 1998