Cats are smart. Of course we are or else we'd be dogs. MOL! That said I've been reading some disturbing things on my furrends' blogs recently calling into question how smart we are. Most cats I know have a PhD or some kind of degree in Human Psychology.
Have you seen all those blog posts about taking your cat to the vet and the best practices to get us into our PTU (Personal Transport Unit)? One of the best practices is to leave the PTU out all the time. Humans think that will make us love our PTUs and we'll jump at the chance to climb in them when our vet appointments come around. Then we'll feel safe and comfortable on the long car ride to the stabby place.
It ain't happening humans. We may sleep every day in the PTU—I don't but know some of you do—but come vet day, we'll avoid that carrier like it had the plague. We're cats. We're smart. We know what's going on.
My PTU used to make an appearance a few weeks before my appointment. Being a curious cat, I used to sit on top of it and sniff the insides. Just try finding me any place close to that PTU the morning Pop stays home from work and I suspect something. It's out all the time now and frankly I'm tired of seeing it. I avoid it at all costs. Of course I don't have a SleepyPod but I bet I'd avoid that too.
It's your body language, humans. What human isn't a bit tense on D-Day. You're nervous that the vet will find something seriously wrong with your cat AND—the big one here—you're nervous that you won't be able to find us to stuff us in our carriers.
Dream on, humans. We're onto you. We can read you like a cheap dime store novel. It's not as air-tight a plan as you thought it was. Don't think cos we play or nap in those carriers that we're gonna be easy to entrap on D-Day. See ya later, sucker.
Again, we're smart; we're cats. We graduated with high honors. I want to know the ways you out-fox your humans when they want to take you to the v-e-t. I know some of you are experts.
My Momma gets the carrier out a week ahead of time. When it comes time, she closes all the doors to the bedrooms (because if I get in there ... there's any number of spots I can hide and she won't find me until I'm good and ready to be found). She's gotten REALLY good at acting casual and like nothing is about to happen ... but I'm STILL on to her. Then she TRIES to shove me in the carrier and all bets are off. I can proudly say that by the time she gets me in there, she's sweating profusely, huffing and puffing like she just ran 10 miles, and about to keel over with exhaustion. And I'm NOT sorry! ~Bear Cat
ReplyDeleteHumans give away what's going on EVERY time! Well, except my human. She can really fake us out sometimes when we're vet bound.
ReplyDeleteOur peeps never tried to lull our angel cats into false sense before vet. They would wait and just scope them up and shove them in!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right CK! Our PTUs are always out and we know when they are about to move!!!
ReplyDeleteCK, our PTU is out all the time. I'll even sleep in it occasionally. But you're right. Us cats are SO smart...smarter than the average human...and we know when it it vet time and I won't go near that PTU. ~Ernie
ReplyDeleteLOL. Yes, you are right and that reminds me of a funny story. Several years ago my assistant tried the leave the carrier out so they get used to it trick. The cats went nowhere near it, but one day she found my predecessor (the original Pip) sleeping in the carrier. He was a Yorkie and fit in all the small cat spaces - though the poor dude never managed to hop up on the radiator to sleep with the kitties.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds more like you have roughly three PhDs in Human Psychology, CK. This human leaves the carrier out all the time. My most difficult kitty to find and imprison on vet day is Eddy, yet she is also the only who uses the carrier as a play place. I mulled that one over and came to the solid conclusion that you are right on every level regarding this topic, CK. You are simply too smart, CK.
ReplyDeleteI guess I am to assume this is in response to my blog post approx a week ago ? ;)
ReplyDeletexoxo
catchatwithcarenandcody
You are so right ! Despite our PTUs are always out, we always know when a vet trip is planned. Purrs
ReplyDeleteYou are a smart girl CK.
ReplyDeleteOh CK you're so funny. Unfurtunately mommy is really good at hidin' her emotions and actin' all normal so we can't sense Vet day from a regular fun outing. So we ain't out foxin' anypawdy 'round here. And we luv our stroller so much, any chance to go fur a stroll is a good thing. We just have to be on guard when we get to da VET. And it seems like me's new sissy Raena's gonna be a fighter too. MOL
ReplyDeleteLuv ya'
Dezi and Raena
You are right on CK. MY PTU sits out all day too and sometimes I nap in it. But when I'm supposed to go in it, I avoid it and the humans like the plague!
ReplyDeleteMy PTU is in the garage where I go in and out all the time. No way do I go near that Prisoner Transport Unit though, even if there is a nice comfy bed in it.
ReplyDeleteYes, we cats are soooo much smarter than humans!!
ReplyDeleteThe Florida Furkids
Our carriers stay in the basement and they don't come out until the very last minute. And I know I must exude stress at vet day because I'm always a nervous wreck!
ReplyDeleteSo, so true, CK. They can leave that thing out 24/7, but we know what time it is.
ReplyDeleteYeah, you're right CK. Leaving the carrier out does nothing over here either. They just sense it!
ReplyDeleteMy PTU lives under the bed, mes does goes in these - sometimes. For mes, now that mes old...nothing gets mes too excited. but when mes was young, it took 3 full grown adults wearing welding gloves to gets mes into one!
ReplyDeleteKisses
Nellie
CK, my darling, you have earned your Post-Doc right here with this post. Truer words were never spoken. My Human tries all those stoopy Human tricks and honestly, it seems like she actually believes that somehow I am just going to FORGET those times when she has shoved me into that damn thing, slammed the gate and hauled me off like a sack of potatoes. Phffft. They are intellectual midgets. That's what they are. XOXOXOXOXO
ReplyDeleteYou opened my eyes, CK. That's why my boys like napping in the PTU but avoid it when it comes to vet day! They like going in there right after vet visit, too. They totally read our mind!
ReplyDeleteWith four cats I couldn't leave out carriers if I wanted to - not enough space. Plus they are foldable ones anyway.
ReplyDeleteOh sweet girl, I am so happies you did not get blown away by Hermine (I do have to ask: Can the weatherpeople not spell Hermione? What was up with that anyway???) Honestly, the world should consult me first before they do anything! Putin? Bad idea. "New Coke"? Fuggedaboudit! And worser things too. We could run the world, right? Why, it could be a New World Order! XOXOXOXO
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