I Want to Get High, So High
I made a terrible mistake.
I took my cat out on a leash.
I love being outside in the sun. Without sunshine on my face and body, I am a sad, sad person. So sad, in fact, that I started to think about how my poor inside cats must feel. I’m generally an indoor cat person but these cats grew up outside and only due to my abject poverty, are forced to live in a tiny studio. I assume it’s a cruel change for them, to lose the sunshine and smells from outside, not to mention the exercise and hunting practice that they must miss. But trust me, it’s no picnic for me either.
I hate cat boxes but that’s hardly the worst part. The worst part is my male cat who has endless energy and no way to expend it except by being annoying. He paces all night, often walking on me and my hair while I’m sleeping. He knocks things over. He races around the house, leaping off of things. I can’t blame him but it’s a real bitch to live with.
After I took him out for two short trips through the brush around the house on a leash and harness, he became that much more unbearable. Now he’s taken to sitting in the window and yowling as loud as he can in protest of his imprisonment. So loud, in fact, that I heard the neighbors talking to each other about it. Fortunately, no one has made the connection between the annoyingly loud cat and me but I’ve taken to keeping my windows closed when I go out, even when it’s nice outside. It’s a bummer and now the stupid cat can’t even sit in the fresh air at the window. Way to ruin it for everyone.
Yesterday, I may have stumbled upon a solution to my problem at the pet store. Calming cat treats. I admit it; I will try anything. I bought them, gave one to my guy and guess what? He was a happy little stoner all night. I’ve decided to save them for the evening when he’s acting up and hopefully the effects will last all night. Supposedly they are safe and you can give them up to three chews in a day when they are really making you insane. It’s too soon to tell for sure if it’s the answer I’ve been waiting for… but I have high hopes.
That’s step one in Operation Winterize. I have committed to staying here throughout winter, which is the worst. My place is small and when the doors and windows aren’t always open, like in summer, it gets stuffy and kind of funky inside. When the rains start, the walls get moist and mildew. I only have a space heater so it’s always either freezing or 100 degrees. My place, which is bright and cheery in the summer, is dark and somber in the winter. The only real benefit of winter is that it seems to kill whatever bacteria is in the water that makes it smell like sulfer and rotten eggs. Like I said, it’s a drag.
Step two – improve the air quality. I am not a plant person. I have a black thumb. Thank goodness for the Internets. I looked up the top 10 hardest plants to kill and decided to stick to the top 5. I’m loading my place with plants as I can afford them. Soon, it will be a lush, tropical oasis (ok, maybe not that many). Because the air is so yucky in here in the winter, I get really congested every day. Dust allergy or something. Hopefully, the plants will help with that. And with my mood. My first plant is Aloe – voted hardest to kill by the internet. I got another too, one with leaves. Now I need two hanging plants and some Snake plant for the bathroom. I’d get some kind of tree, like a Ficus but I think the cats would dig it up.
Now if nature can cooperate like it has been and we have a sunny winter, my life will hopefully be a little better.






