In an earlier post I mentioned that human kittens are called babies. It turns out that it's more complicated than that. Only the smallest kittens are called babies. The larger ones are called children. It is the smaller children, known as toddlers or preschoolers (I haven't quite figured out the difference--if any--between these two terms) that are the most fearsome. They are small (just above eye level), highly mobile, unresponsive to requests to please back off, and prone to emitting sudden ear-splitting shrieks. This is unnerving.
If you are faced with a disaster of this sort, try not to panic. Instead, try these pointers gleaned from my recent experience:
1. Head for the hills. One of the most disconcerting things about small children is that they are close to the floor, thereby ruining some of your favorite hiding places, like under the bed. Instead of going under things, think up. Toddlers are not good at climbing; you are.2. Hole up. How often do you really need to leave the bedroom? You may be in the habit of hanging out on the sofa in the afternoon or sunning yourself in the breakfast nook in the morning, but you can put these activities on hold for a few days. Hang tight, and it will all be over soon.
3. Consolidate. Depending on your house layout, you may be able to convince your humans to temporarily move your food and/or litter to a place that's nearer your hole-up site. I recognize that this disruption of your routine may be stressful for you, but it may be your best option if it allows you to slip under the radar and eat or use your litter in peace. Refusing to eat or drink or trying to find a substitute for your litter box are not recommended tactics.
4. Sleep it off. When the guests have gone, de-stress with some good sleep. You'll be OK once you've gotten caught up on your rest.
No comments:
Post a Comment