I believe that cats with his amount of personality are rare. We adore and treasure him. He is Fei's baby. He has totally claimed her. He is the picture of innocence when he's in her arms.
However...
We have never been so challenged by a cat before. We are constantly trying to thwart him. It took Eugene six months to jump the gate to the laundry room, took Walter one day. Walter has found the cat door and checks it out several times a day. It's just a matter of time before he gets brave enough to go out. In the mean time we all go get him and bring him back in the kitchen. He does not give up. I was hoping to keep the kittens in until spring. Esmei doesn't know there is a gate.
He doesn't know his name. Won't come when called to any version of "kitty kitty". He hasn't learned 'down'. But call out the word BATH and he's there! We're mostly getting used to him on the edge of the tub. Not sure what Eric really thinks of his audience ;) He's fallen in the tub three times that I know of. Is it possible a cat would like swimming? Do we try putting him in? Wait till he finds out we have a pool.
He has leaped into the kitchen sink. He wanders around the mantle and the top of the piano. We hear him playing the piano often. He's the worst pianist here. The kids don't even react to him being 'up' anymore. They just go get him and put him down. We're trying to allow one high spot per room. I'd prefer he stayed off tables and kitchen counters.
The crashes. Oh my the crashes. I thought we were fairly child friendly already but he is showing us all the time what we missed. We hear the crash and automatically know it's Walter. When we get there he is always looking on like 'what happened?!'.
He loves the rats. We can NOT get him to leave them alone. The girls have a heck of a time cleaning the cage as he tries to help. For now we've given up chasing him away. As long as he's being polite we'll let him continue visiting his little friends. The ratties don't seem to mind him.
Esmei...well Esmei is a doll. She likes to chase paper balls and lays on her back batting at dust. She also really likes her naps. A lot of them.
I'm not keen to decorate for Chistmas. Eric bought me a fake tree. We're hoping that will help deter them. I also located the dollar store decorations I bought for last year with Eugene.
Too funny.
Busy house these days.
