Accidental animal crueltyI once invented a brilliant game - I'd sit at the top of the stairs and throw cat biscuits to the bottom. My cat would eat them, then I'd shake the box, and he would run up the stairs for more biscuits. Then - of course - I'd throw a biscuit back down to the bottom. I kept this going for about half an hour, amused at my little game, and all was fine until the cat vomited. I felt absolutely dreadful.
Have you accidentally been cruel to an animal?
This question has been revived from way, way, way back on the b3ta messageboard when it was all fields round here.
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rob, Thu 6 Dec 2007, 11:13)
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Well, she smelled nice afterwards...Not that long ago, I had run JuniorWitch #2's evening bath. I hadn't, however, completely turned off the cold tap. Its a bit stiff, you see (no sniggering at the back!).
So, the bath water's about six inches deep, with a nice layer of scented bubbles on top.
I leave the bathroom to collect mucky child and a nice clean towel. Not really noticing the moggy hovering outside the bathroom door.
Couple of minutes later, JuniorWitch #2 is ready, I go back to the bathroom and sort of lob the towel on the floor beside the bath. Without noticing that puss has jumped up, and is balancing on the side of the bath, sneaking a drink from the dripping tap. She much prefers dripping taps to the nice bowl of clean water we keep beside her food bowl. Its a cat thing I believe.
Cat gets a massive fright, discovers her paws have no grip on the shiny enamel of the bath, and falls right in. For about a millisecond, everything froze.
Then there's an explosion of black cat, warm water and bubbles all over the bathroom as she leaps vertically out of the water and runs round the walls trying to find the door! She left a trail of bubbles behind her as she shot through the house at warp speed before hiding under the bed. She refused to come out for ages, and shot me dirty looks for the rest of the night.
I couldn't even go looking for her until the hysterics had calmed down (and I also had to supervise bath-time) so it was a while before I attempted to coax her out. Cats HATE having their dignity offended, and they KNOW when they're being laughed at. I'm sure it was no accident that she puked on the bathroom rug during that night, which I handily found with my (bare) foot first thing the next morning.
She still loves to drink from dripping taps, but not the bath tap. Not even when the bath is empty. She hasn't forgotten!
(, Sun 9 Dec 2007, 11:54, Reply)
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