When parents are away the kitten will play

Sometimes I just feel really stupid.  

Three weeks ago Moisés started hunting yarn, and I moved most of the yarn out of my sewing/yarn room and into the fabric closet.  It is still piled up there and I can hardly get into that closet from the monumental mess.  I thought it was safe as that closet has folding doors which are fairly tight and don't open easily.  At that point Moisés couldn't open those doors, but within about a week and a half he had learned how to worm his body between the doors and shove them open by brute force.  Then the yarn was his.

I am now closing the door to the library, which contains the yarn closet, fully intending to reorganize as soon as I finish the outdoor fall maintenance on the house and the various repairs that have been necessitated by a few years of neglect on my part while G was ill, and on his part while he was gradually becoming more confused but trying to maintain the illusion that it wasn't happening.

I knew Moisés was learning fast and was also determined, but I allowed myself to suppress this information.

Until Sunday night that it is.  

Sunday evening we came home from our concert and, as usual there were three cats at the door ready to greet us.  But wait.  One cat had something soft and fuzzy and maroon colored in his mouth.  My immediate thought was "I know I closed the library door", and yes it was closed.  Then I grabbed the yarn.  Kidsilk Haze, as tempting to cats as to knitters.  I knew it came from the sewing room.  

As I walked through the house I was amazed at what I saw.  There was a giant cobweb of yarn spun around all the furniture, the railings on the stairs and the freestanding chimney in the living room, up and down, over and under, all around there was yarn.  Pink yarn, blue yarn, linen yarn, silk yarn, wool. Oh my. The sewing room was even worse.  

Moises had to be put away in a yarn-free room overnight while I started the slow process of rewinding.  By late Monday morning I had the yarn all back together and I decided to put it back in the cubbies temporarily as I wanted to see how Moisés had managed to get at it.  The yarn cubbies were 4 and 5 1/2 feet off the floor respectively and he is not a jumper.   I let him in and it was only  a short while before the lure of yarn proved too strong to ignore.  I caught him in the act.

Moisés had learned to climb the wall of cubbies.  The yarn will have to be moved of course.  In the meantime I am keeping the door to the fiber haven firmly closed.  But this will not work for long.  Already the little devil is reaching up to the doorknob and trying to turn it.  He has not yet been successful, but I can no longer delude myself into thinking this is anything more than a short term (very short term) solution.

Comments

[Monique]

What a beautiful cat! Quite a clever little fella too!

[Inés]

Hello! I am Inés from Abuelita Yarns Company. I loved your story!! Your cat really had clear interests! haha :)
We are a uruguaian brand which sells yarns. If you want to know more about us please enter www.abuelitayarns.com or if you wish to see our articles and pictures enter www.abuelitayarns.com/blog/
Good luck! :D

[Liana]

Oh my! Whether to laugh or cry, but probably both at times. I have to say that there is a cat with too much time on his paws. Now if he had to go out and catch his own dinner every day, he'd be too tired to 'exercise' your yarn. You may need to lay in a store of live mice outside, or really, The Peep recommends rabbits. :)

[materfamilias]

Wow! My experience with cats is obviously limited! I've never heard of this kind of determination and skill combined -- and really, they can open doorknobs?

[Gina]

My goodness! He is such a little imp. Yeah, do not delude yourself further. My childhood cat was able to open doors by jumping up to the handle/knob, hanging on, and wriggling such that he could pop the door open.

Good luck!

[Susan]

Two words: water sprayer. He's intelligent and will learn quickly. Of course, locks will be in order until then, but he really must be trained. You can be on a constant vigil to keep all your yarn and knitting projects put away. It's your home, too.

[Lisa]

My what a busy cat! Maybe a lock is in order? A doorknob sounds like it will only be a temporary obstacle, one that Moises will work his way around soon...

If only you could come up with a better "project" for him (and figure out a way to get him interested in it, of course).

I love your bookcases too. Did you build them? or were they a purchase? Just wondering.

I look forward to hearing more about Moises!

[Shannon]

That is hilarious! I love a little mischief in my animals - makes them more "interesting". And you appear to have the epitome of "interesting" cats, don't you! So cute!

[Grace]

OMG, I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

If it helps, I am going through a similar period with Iris. I found trails of thread and yarn periodically. How did she create such a mess with my serger (the last of the Bernina ones made in Japan)? What is the clunking noise that the serger makes now?

[Kay]

Well ... that is ... impressive! What a busy cat! Sounds like he's stubborn and intelligent, probably a bad combination in a pet. But you'll be dining out on the stories for a while!

[Leanne in NZ]

I agree - how did you not crumple in a heap and bang your fists on the floow?? Lol! I wonder if house insurance would cover 'cat damaged' items Lol?

I just love your 'wall' of fabric, yarn and books/mags :-)

[marji]

oh Mardel, I think I'd just sit down and cry if faced with that scenario. You have such beautiful yarns...
So now I'm wondering if you will have to build a separate studio out beyond the pool to house your collections. Moises sounds more destructive than an adventurous toddler in the house.