After years of being owned by cats, one thing I've learned is that adult felines are notoriously unimpressed with the plethora of playthings on the market; such are made for kittens. All I know is, we've got a basketful of assorted furry, curly, crinkly, tinkly, bouncy, and squeaky doo-dads with which are current three kitty queens are aloofly unimpressed. They give emphasis to the regal remonstrance, "We are not amused." Thinking back, among the objects that've met with enthusiastic approval are Q-tips, wine corks, dirty socks, expired credit cards, satisfyingly shreddable rolls of mounted toilet paper, and, in one notably successful instance, a short length of grubby, knotted, drapery cord that Trouble, before she got old and grouchy, scampered to fetch like a dog does a thrown ball.In the case of Hidie, a two-year old, short-haired calico adopted last year, the CATNIP WOOD BALL has been a continuing source of her fun. Whether it's due or not to the bolus of catnip that can be stuffed inside via a snug-fitting plug is open to conjecture. Rather, we suspect it's the noise it makes after being swatted across our hardwood floors since she also seems to like the golf balls that rumble. Since the wooden ball isn't perfectly round but barrel-shaped, there's an undertone of clatter to its passage. So, in the wee hours, we may awaken to "rattle, rattle, rattle, rattle, BUMP" as the toy hits the baseboard. Or, "rattle, rattle, rattle, rattle, SWOOSH" as she chases it into a pile of used bubble wrap and tissue gift paper. (Our living room needs to be tidied-up before company.)
Recently, the CATNIP WOOD BALL has disappeared. I've looked under the couch, dressers and TV cabinet, inside the fireplace, and behind the book shelves, refrigerator, washer and dryer. It's a little too big to be rolled under doors into closets or down the central heating/AC floor vents. I suspect foul play. Has the wife surreptitiously tossed the toy after being aroused from slumber once too often?
I've ordered two more.
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