Percy proved the appropriate name, as the cat I took in a few weeks ago turned out to be a boy --- well, more boy than girl, more eunuch than boy, since his absent owners neutered him. And no matter how many books, he tosses off my shelves, he isn't going anywhere now.
It's amazing what little tricks a new cat-minder (no one really owns a cat) can learn in an hour at the vet's office. Orange peels and other aromatic scents will turn a cat away from house plants. Outdoor cats commonly contract ear mites, which quickly run amok; a shake of Percy's head as they administered the treatment flung black chunks across the exam table.
And obviously, the best lesson: because of a cat's body frame, manhandling them during an exam doesn't really hurt them.
I'm betting he fares not as well when I return in two weeks for the cat's series of shots, including a rabies vaccination. He doesn't leave the house – but
shows great inclination to discovering what lies beyond the front door. With all the biting the kitten inflicts on my arms and legs, I can't wait until they stick him.
No comments:
Post a Comment