Re: the scruffing. Wow! I had no idea that this was so potentially harmful. When I took my sweetheart to the vet for the first time and asked how to properly dissuade him from getting on the counters (lest you think I am lazy, I did try and do research but there was a myriad of advice on other parts of the internet....a smorgasbord which included anything from "gentle smacking" or "putting kitty in a box for time-out" to "hissing" or "spraying with water.")....anyhow, the vet's rec was to scruff him. Yikes. Last time I trust them....
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Originally Posted by Jim Hall
what th issues on being a counter surfer?
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Well....it kind of bothers me when he jumps straight from the litter box onto the kitchen counters. He also sashays right over the stove in between the counters and that's arguably a bad habit (though given my schedule and my resulting vastly superior skill of living on the student diet of sandwiches, my stove hasn't been turned on since September....)
On a fair note, Jim. Seeing as though he already jumps straight from the litter box to back in my bed when we are going to sleep, I guess I shouldn't be too concerned with the counters. Particularly as I have woken up more than once with my kitten's paws pressed against my lips or chin....a cute gesture but gross when one knows where the paws just came from
I think that's the same thing with the kitchen counters. Even though Arc and I sleep chin-to-chin and I have in 5 weeks more than surpassed maximum exposure to "his germs" including his "straight from the litter box" paws......I guess it's just psychological?
Re:14+kitties....I will never let him loose outside. But I am considering a harness when he is older and his vaccinations are complete. If he responds warmly to the trial run, I might bring him outside on that harness/leash so that he can get his outdoor fix. He really seemed to love the snow (and inexplicably, the freezing weather) along with being immersed in the fresh air/sounds/smells when he managed to get on my balcony without me noticing.
I attached a picture of my furry little heart