So, I've always known that Sunny was smart. It's one of the things I love about him. He's a big cat with a big personality powered by a big brain (for a cat that is). Every once in a while he does things that really show me just how smart he is. Sometimes, that realization is a little scary.
Things have been a bit crazy in the past few weeks. There was Holy Week (I'm a professional church musician) and I started working again as a contractor for an old boss who can make things a bit stressful, while I'm still looking and interviewing for a permanent job. On top of that, I started getting out the door early to meet a friend to go walking before I work. Nothing I can't handle, but it takes a bit to settle into the busy routine again, so I've been a bit tired.
Well, last night, I realized that I hadn't scooped Sunny's box in a while. I'm usually really on top of it and keep it nice and clean. I think my brain registered going down into the basement to get laundry as "I've been in the basement, the box is scooped." It's the only reason I go down there on a regular basis. Feeling horribly guilty, I grabbed the fresh bag of litter and a garbage bag and headed downstairs.
Now, I expected a mess. I knew the box would be really full, but I also know that Sunny is really great about keeping everything in the box and there was no smell coming upstairs. Now you have to understand that the litter I use (Arm & Hammer Essentials--GREAT stuff!!), comes in a stiff plastic bag. I tear off the entire top of the bag and it sits on the floor near the box, wide open.
Well, Sunny kept to his fastidious nature and only peed in the box. That gets absorbed into the litter, so it's fine. Poop, on the other hand is to be buried and when most of the litter is a big clump, what's a kitty to do?
Well, if you're Sunny, you figure it out. You go into the bag of litter, spill some out, poop on that and then pull more litter out to bury it. No joke. There was poop on the floor next to the bag with litter both underneath and on top as if it had been buried in the box as usual. He only did it once, so I got there in time to avoid it getting out of hand, which was a relief. However, it is mildly alarming to realize that I have a cat with better problem solving skills than some co-workers I've had. I mean, seriously, how many animals come up with solutions like this? One of my friends is convinced he's really a human being trapped in a cat's body, a la Bewitched. I'm not sure she's wrong.
He got extra treats last night, both as an apology and a thank you. Of course, not two minutes after I came upstairs from the cleanup, who comes down from the second floor and heads to the basement? Yup. He had been listening for the signs that I had taken care of things for him, so he knew things were all fresh. I went right back down after he came up to scoop things up. A kitty that smart deserves a clean box.
