Sep 24 2010
Copeless
Morning light on my staircase
You know how they say mothers forget the pain of labor, and that allows them to have more children? I think the same rule applies to kittens.
I find myself saying (or thinking) “I don’t remember June and Audrey doing that” multiple times during the day. It probably took me five minutes to type these sentences, because of the kittens blocking my view, clawing at my hands, or climbing up my legs with their razor-sharp claws. If they’d just settle down when they sit on me in the morning, it would be fine.
But they don’t.
They mill around, sticking their butts and tails in my face, jockeying each other for position, kneading my bare skin with their needle claws, biting my nose, chewing my glasses and earrings, clawing at my hands as I type, walking back and forth to obscure my laptop, having fights all over me, jumping on and off me with the most possible emphasis on tender body parts and inflicting damage.
All while purring.
I have even found myself using my parents’ tried and true method of coping with too many rambunctious kids too early in the day: putting them outside while I drink coffee and achieve the necessary acceptance of being up at that hour. However, this strategy is complicated by the fact that whenever I stand up, they race into the studio, thinking it’s feeding time*, making it hard to capture and eject both of them. If I’m successful, they often sit by the sliding glass doors, mewing pitifully, so I feel guilty and mean. As usual in life, there are no good answers.
But sometimes, they just curl up on my shoulders, purring, and are incredibly adorable.
*I filmed their feeding frenzy and posted it on Facebook, but can’t figure out how to post it here.
5 Responses to “Copeless”
Kittens make you love them and hate them at the same time. I remember Bernoulli climbing up my pant legs with his sharp little claws – that got old really fast! Fingers crossed they mellow out a bit soon!
The boys do that, too. They love climbing up my pajamas! Hurts, and has caused several holes. Bonus points! 🙂
The good and the bad, eh? You can’t get one without the other, it seems.
I’ve always had a cat, but never had a kitten. All my cats are rescues, and are usually a couple of years old when they come to our house.
I’m sure I missed some wonderful moments with kittens, but it’s never happened.
They sure do love their attention, they also know who feeds them don’t they, but it’s hard not to love them back and miss this attention when it’s not there.