The Terror that Sleeps (a lot)
March 29th, 2007 at 1:15 pm (Progress Posts)
Look how sweet she looks. Oh, but little Ms Anais can be a holy terror on the yarn basket.
I keep a basket under the couch. I figured that it was safe because there is only a gap of about one inch between it and the couch…and that gap is only on one side. She didn’t show any interest in yarn for a long time, but I kept it hidden when not in use just in case she took up an interest.
Last fall, she realized that she could reach her paw over the top of the basket and grab things. After she pulled one half finished sweater out, I decided not to put any major WIPs in there. However, I still kept some yarn and smaller projects in there. For awhile this was fine….but then she pulled things out with more and more frequency.
I started to keep the yarn near the front of the basket where she couldn’t get it, and books near the back. Ha, ha, I fooled you kitty.
Nope, last month she figured out how to move the whole basket completely out from under the couch.
I should have known this would happen. After all, this is a cat that has figured out how to open the side door, and this is a door with an actual doorknob, not a lever. She is an inside cat because she is a bully, but she sometimes decides that she is an outdoor cat. When she decides this, there are loud kitty shrieks of pain about two minutes after she escapes outside, but she returns without a scratch. We had neighbors ask us to keep our cat inside while they were on vacation because Anais apparently goes next door, attacks their cats, eats their cat food, and then sleeps on their bed. (We replied that we do try to keep the cat inside, but she sometimes escapes. I also thought maybe they should keep their window closed, and then she couldn’t get in their house…but I didn’t say that.)
Basically she is a conniving attack cat. I realized that I should remove all yarn from the basket, so I put in needles, books, and patterns that I wanted to have easy access to.
So she did this:
At least she didn’t claw through to the pattern that I’m currently working on.
Knitting Update: Durrow est fini! I had to alter the neckline a bit, but it is all done. It may take me a few day to post pictures because I infected the model with my germs. (Sorry P-funk)
Christine said,
March 29, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Clearly Anais has issues with the Nantucket Cardigan. One of my dogs loves to shred bamboo needles. She also managed to bend the tip of one of my metal cable needles.
Opal said,
March 29, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Your Anais does sound like a darling terror on four paws! Thankfully, my girls are angels when it comes to my stash. Unfortunately I just acquired a boy who is gearing up to be a terror in his own right.
Knittypants said,
March 29, 2007 at 2:22 pm
What a bratty cat. That’s so funny he sleeps on the neighbours bed!
Looking forward to Durrow.
Daphne said,
March 29, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Anais seems to have figured out that a cat is even more lovable when forced to be good after being bad. Or something like that…
I’m loving the top photo here, with the dark cat, shadowy woods, real sunflowers and painted daisies. Can I have your house?
P-Funk said,
March 29, 2007 at 3:14 pm
To clarify, she sleeps on our neighbors’ bed, not their cats’ beds. Terribly embarrassing.
Kelly said,
March 29, 2007 at 4:38 pm
awww I cannot believe a cute little thing like that could be such a terror *wink wink*
tiennie said,
March 29, 2007 at 5:42 pm
I swear, pets are there for your pleasure and pain at times – love ‘em anyways.
Karen B. said,
March 29, 2007 at 7:05 pm
That really is a fantastic shot: color, composition, and cat in repose! Anais sounds naughty and willful and clever as anything. How is it that, as soon as we think we’ve found a way to manage their behaviors, they’ve figured out how to get around it?!
Mrs. Hipp said,
March 29, 2007 at 7:21 pm
Funny how so many knitters have cats but cats are SO not knit or yarn friendly. My Gracie has ruined several circular needle cables with her teeth, and Arabella seems to think knits laid out for blocking are just right for kneading with her little paws (claws out, of course). It’s all worth it to see them sleeping so sweetly, though isn’t it?
Brenda said,
March 29, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Great photo! Maybe Anais likes your neighbor’s bedspread/quilt better than yours. There is no denying that she is a very naughty kitty. Is she still young? Sometimes they outgrow bad behavior. Perhaps she wants her own basket? Maybe she is just jealous of all the time you spend knitting and therefore not petting her.
Our neighbor has a black cat that he named Satan. It is a total scaredy cat. Our neighbor finds this quite embarrassing.
Pikku-Kettu said,
March 29, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Cute but Dangerous! Pets always find a way to surprise you with their intelligence just when you think you’ve got them figured out. It’s just too bad that Anais uses her skills for obviously evil, anti-knitting ends. :)
Stacey said,
March 29, 2007 at 10:24 pm
My cat does something similar to my mags or my yarn if I leave them around…although I must say I haven’t found her at the neighbors yet! Your story made me laugh :)
I was very tempted by the Louet yarns at 50% at Abundent Yarns as well…but I was very good…
stacey said,
March 30, 2007 at 4:04 am
She obviously was not happy with that issue of IK…cats are clever creatures – they can figure almost anything out if you give them long enough!
Moe said,
March 30, 2007 at 4:30 am
Ha – THAT is the funniest cat story I have ever heard. And that is including my sister’s roommates cat when she was in university – the kitty used to like to flush the toilet repeatedly when anyone was in the shower.
She pulls a break and enter in your neighbour’s house? Insane.
Benefits of having a wimpy dog – she is slightly wary of my knitting for unknown reasons (and terrified of my retractable tape measure). She never touches it. My shoes/slippers however, are a different story.
Jodi said,
March 30, 2007 at 5:55 am
That is one smart (and naughty) cat! I didn’t realize how easy we had it with our two kitties of average intelligence until we tried adopting a third genius cat who could open up sliding closet doors.
Can’t wait to see Durrow.
Sally said,
March 30, 2007 at 5:57 am
Anais is quite the determined feline. I love the painting above her in the picture. Your knitting is beautiful! Can’t wait to see pictures of the Durrow.
Shannon said,
March 30, 2007 at 7:07 am
Anais sounds like quite the little terror – although I have to say she does look deceptivley sweet in the photo. It is amazing how they do that isn’t it.
Her trips to the neighbor’s house are what make me chuckle! I can’t imagine that.
nonaKnits said,
March 30, 2007 at 7:13 am
Don’t you love those kitties?! Speaking of love, I absolutely love the painting on the wall and how it fits in with your flowers, table, and cat — beautiful!
Maritza said,
March 30, 2007 at 8:13 am
Your Anais is too funny!
MeBeth said,
March 30, 2007 at 8:33 am
The neighbor’s bed – ha – P-Funk made it even funnier! Our neighbor’s dog tries to get into our apartment pretty routinely, but I think he’d be terrified if he ever actually succeeded.
Arianne said,
April 2, 2007 at 3:19 am
I have an attack cat too! I feel your pain!