February 21st, 2024

The things I find myself doing for these two.  Geez!  Here is a most recent example.

Our dehumidifier is clearly on it's last legs. It has worked mighty hard for us for nearly 8  years and it's obvious that it's on life support. So rather than wait until it gasps it's last, Tim went ahead and ordered a new one.  It arrived and in the process of unpacking it, we were  left with a good sized empty box.  My plan was to do what I always do with empty boxes, which is to recycle it!  The rules of recycling in our town require that not only do cardboxes need to be broken down but also cut to a certain size. It's no big deal and I've gotten pretty good at it. With that in mind,  I walked toward the box, intending to pick it up and put it, temporarily, in the utility room to deal with later but before I reached the box, there was a cat in it.

They do that. Like most cats, anything they can fit in they will get in.  Things that they quite honestly cannot fit in, they will still at least attempt to get in. It's who they are, it's what they do.

No big deal, I can move the box later, I thought to myself and life went on for the rest of the day with the box occasionally occupied by one or the other cat (sometimes both) and once in awhile one of their toys would turn up in the box as well.  They were having fun, so why not.

A few days later, while cleaning I decided that the room looked too junked up with all of the various and sundry toys and now this giant box in the middle of things so again, I went to pick up the box.  The instant my hand touched the box, suddenly a cat appeared in the bottom of it.  I took the cat out.  The cat jumped back in.  Clearly this is going to be an issue.

I tried to discuss the situation with them calmly.  I sat on the floor and told them how the box was junky looking and took up too much space.  They sat and starred at me intently as I talked.  when I stopped talking, one of them jumped back in the box. This time with toy mousie.  sigh.  Clearly they loved the box and as much as I wanted  a room that didn't look like the town dump, I also want to be a good pet parent and keep our pets happy.  The box made them happy.  Dang.

So I decided that if the box was going to stay for awhile, it should at least look better.  I gathered a box cutter, packing tape, some coloured markers and got to work.  Now, before you judge the quality of my work, please keep in mind that I have No artistic abilities whatsoever! NONE!  When those were handed out, I must have been out of the room.  

What used to be just a cardboard box is now the Kittyboy Hideout, complete with two doors, several windows and a skylight.  I was unsure if I had "ruined" the box for them or not.  You  never know.  What I think of as an improvement they could perceive as a total disaster.  But I kept on with fingers crossed.  Finally it was done enough.  As a finishing touch,  I put an old towel inside so it would be nice and soft for them and then I sat back and waited to see what Brysco and Wyatt would think of it.

I think maybe despite my questionable efforts that maybe it'll be okay?

Turns out they love it even more than they did before!  They nap in it, play in it and sometimes fight in it (and then you can see the entire box rattling around - earthquake!)  The peek their heads out the window, zoom in and out through the two doors and occasionally through a window when they are racing.  I find toys in the hideout, sometimes things that are specifically NOT toys (my chapstick and a crumpled up napkin come to mind)  and definitely the cats.  

Sometimes I kind of "knock" on the side of the box...Anybody home?  And they might peek out to see who is at their door!  Or I'll lay on the floor, reach inside and give pets to whichever kitty it is.  Occasionally we just see a paw come up through the skylight or an ear or a tail.  Every once in a long while, especially on a chilly day, both boys snuggy up together in there. So cute!

My long range plan is to do more "artwork" and I use the term loosely. Maybe some trees and shrubs around the sides of their house.  If I was a better artist, I could  draw birds or lizards or spiders or something on the "roof" but I am reluctant to attempt it as marker is not erasable dang it all.  I had the intention to make one of the doors a drawbridge of sorts and even figured out how to do it with elastic.  Problem is, I don't actually have any elastic so until I go to a store that sells it, that particular door appears to be  a broken drawbridge. Oh well.  If I get inspired and acquire more boxes, maybe I can add on more rooms?  A second story?  The possibilities abound!

It still takes up far too much space in a room already cluttered up with various kitty toys but they love it and what the heck, why not.  Our home is not a magazine cover home anyway.  Now it's even more so. 

  My eventually conclusion was, So Be It!  Long live the Kittyboy Hideout!  They concur.  So they've taken over the room, the giant cardboard box AND my small laundry basket.  I guess we know who is in charge in this house.  Life is short.  Enjoy it to the max.
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We do!