June 24, 2008
Anybody want a cat?
Okay, I have to start this by saying...no, I'm not getting rid of my cat. But last night, I was close, seriously close to giving him away. Remember....I love my cat, but there are just certain things that they are not supposed to touch. Like your knitting. I had been home about half an hour when I noticed him digging around in my knitting bag. He then proceeds to PEE IN MY KNITTING BAG! My brand new knitting bag no less. What was in there? Well, three works in progress, about 5 other skeins of yarn that I was going to wind up, including three skeins of Red Rocks (these lovelies), assorted patterns and notions, etc.
Yesterday had already been a bit of an emotional day for me...so I was a little on edge to begin with. (read my Dad's blog here if you want to) Then to come home and have my cat do that....right in front of me no less...was the straw that broke the camels back. To say I was upset is an understatement. I pulled everything out and started the process of cleaning everything. What a process it was. I didn't know what to do with the projects that were already on the needles. I didn't want to throw them away. My Mom kept saying that it was all replaceable...but my time wasn't?! I managed to calm down eventually and get the job of cleaning everything done. Wool wash to the rescue. I soaked everything and hung it all up overnight and everything looked and smelled normal this morning. What I've learned from this is that I'm just going to have to watch where I set my big knitting bags. No more leaving bags unattended that he can fit into! (for those of you that have met my cat, you know he's a big boy...so this was a really big bag!)
This is his "I'm so ashamed" pose. Ummm, yeah right! :) I couldn't stay mad at the big lug for long.
Oh, Stacey! I have two cats, so I can totally sympathize with your situation. The kids have learned the hard way that a nice soft towel or t-shirt left on the floor is kind of an invitation for Max & Lola. I've had Max climb in a closet and pee once or twice, but never on the knitting... you poor thing! Thank goodness the wool wash worked... usually that cat smell is in there for life! :-)
Posted by: Angie at June 24, 2008 06:01 PMAfter accidentally upending a cup of (thick!) hot chocolate (the same cup I had just repeatedly warned my 7yo to be careful with!!) into my open felted knitting bag and over several projects, patterns and a brand new magazine I now generally keep individual projects and the corresponding pattern in ziplock bags in the knitting bag. And I'm more aware of where I place the liquids! So far I haven't had to worry about the cat peeing on anything tho he does love to climb in my lap and attack the yarn as I pull it out of my bag.
Posted by: Tish at June 24, 2008 06:04 PMStacy, we now have four cats in residence here and it's happened twice in my knitting bag. I swear, they have wonderful taste, they only pee on my most expensive yarn. I can't imagine having more than one project scented at once!
I've been praying for your father since I found your blog. I spent much time with my late father-in-law as he fought prostate cancer. It was a tough battle but he kept saying the Lord wasn't quite ready for him yet.
My husband took him on 4 farewell trips of 500 miles one way, to say good bye to his sisters. We affectionately called them Dad's 1, 2nd, 3rd and 4th annual farewell trips. He had big plans for the fifth when we lost him, THIRTEEN years after they gave him 6 months to live.
I know that we will see them again in heaven, but darn, I miss him now!
God bless your family,
Jan
OMG! I have never heard of this. I'm so sorry it happened to you. I wonder if it was some sort of territory marking thing. Great pictures though.
Posted by: Jennifer at June 24, 2008 07:48 PMJesse, you bad kitty! I wonder if it was something about the new bag that set him off? My cats will pee on anything my husband leaves on the floor--I still don't get that one. I'm glad the cleaning worked.
Your Dad, and you and your family, are in my thoughts and prayers. ((hugs))
Posted by: Kim at June 24, 2008 08:01 PMOoh, what a big bad sweet kitty! I'm so sorry this happened to your knitting, but he sure is a good looking fella!
Posted by: yoel at June 24, 2008 08:04 PMTell Jesse that pets are supposed to stress-relieving, not stress-inducing!! That last picture of him really is hilarious though. Well it sounds like a major pain but at least you were able to save everything. Ugh! I keep praying for your dad and your family, this has got to be so hard for you all.
Posted by: rohanknitter at June 24, 2008 09:04 PMI still can't believe Jesse did that!!! I'm so glad the wool wash worked. I love the last picture of him :)
I've been reading your dad's blog and will continue to keep him and your family in my thoughts!
Posted by: Terrie at June 24, 2008 10:03 PMDang, girl, that's really rough. I'm sorry Jesse gave you such a hard time.
Posted by: Wanda at June 24, 2008 11:15 PMAw man! Mine likes #2...
He's lucky he's cute...
That's terrible! I was working on what I considered at the time, my 'opus', when my sister spilled an entire glass of dark red wine on my project - yikes! Incidentally, my project was a cream colored wool. Luckily, I soaked it overnight - needles and all - in woolite, and everything came out a-okay.
Cats are complex creatures. If your cat pee-d in your knitting bag right in front of you, believe it or not, it's possible he's upset with you. Has he been left alone a little too much lately? Just a thought (I have cats, so I'm well aware of all their idiosyncracies).
Posted by: Lauren at June 25, 2008 09:10 AMit could also mean he's got a kidney issue that is popping up. if he's not been to the vet and this is a very odd behavior for him, please just go get his levels checked.
we lost our bob due to kidney failure because we chalked it up to him hating my then roommate. by the time we got him in, it was too late to do anything...
Posted by: shannon in oregon at June 25, 2008 09:25 AMOMG - I would not have been happy at all, but you're right look at that "I'm so ashamed" pose. Hilarious. I am glad that everything was saved.
Posted by: Corinne at June 25, 2008 09:34 AMOMG - i would have killed my cat if she did that. Well, if I had one anyway.
There must have been a smell on one of the yarns that made him to that.....
Glad it all came clean for you.
Posted by: lisa at June 25, 2008 10:00 AMOMG, that's TOO funny!!! My dog threw up in my sister's knitting bag once. Fortunately, there was only one (large) project in it!
Prayers for your day...
Posted by: Margie at June 25, 2008 11:02 AMOops...I meant "prayers for your dad," not your day!
Posted by: Margie at June 25, 2008 11:03 AMIf it were not for the last picture, I would still be mad at the cat. You know I pray for your dad...did so this morning. Blessings to you. P.S. Mom is right.
Posted by: julie at June 25, 2008 11:37 AMOh MAN! I would have been LIVID! I'm so sorry!
Posted by: Wannabe at June 25, 2008 12:48 PMmy cat...who never touches my knitting...humped my knitting bag, snagging a gorgeous Koigu lace baby blanket i had knit.
Posted by: kathleen at June 25, 2008 02:30 PMI can't decide who had he worse day yesterday, but I think it might be you. Poor Jesse and Cyrano, they were both almost homeless yesterday. Glad everything is fine now.
Posted by: Whitney at June 25, 2008 03:46 PMOh, that is just terrible. There is no stink like cat pee, too! I'm glad you were able to wash the whole thing out!
That's right Jesse, hide your shame!
Posted by: Becca(Woolpierogi) at June 25, 2008 06:11 PMhi Stacey, I just posted a message on your Dad's blog. will continue to think of the family.
I know the cat's 'accident' was annoying, but have you considered it was his way of helping you? working on the clean-up would take your mind off Dad for a little while.>>just a thought.
take care
Hello Gorgeous! I am sending healing vibes to your dad as I write this. Don't hesitate to call if you need to talk or get your mind off things for a bit. Ahhhh Jesse......what can I say? That is very weird. I'm glad you were able to get everything soaking right away. I think stuff should be fine. Damn cat!
Posted by: Kelly at June 25, 2008 07:14 PMGood thing he's so cute!
Posted by: Michelle at June 26, 2008 11:17 AMOh poor you, and poor Jesse! If he doesn't usually have accidents outside the litter box, i would definitely mention it to the vet like Shannon mentioned. Could be a UTI or could be nothing. Did you change brands of litter lately? Or maybe he's feeling your stress. Purrs to both of you.
Posted by: VaxGirl at June 27, 2008 12:29 PMI had a cat pee on some embroidery I was working on. I tried washing it but had to finally throw it in the garbage. It smelled and I was totally grossed out. I don't know why cats do that!
Posted by: Suzanne at June 28, 2008 07:15 PMCats. Consternation. Coincidence they both start with 'C'? I think not. Sorry for the incident. Perhaps there was some really interesting smelling yarn in there that he wanted to make sure knew who owned the house. Otherwise, keep an eye on him, acting out can be a sign of a health issue or loneliness. Hard not to forgive such an apologetic pose.
Posted by: Robby at June 30, 2008 07:37 AMWe had four cats once, and two of them did the same. I couldn't put down my knitting to go to the kitchen to get something or one of them "marked" my knitting. Turned out both of them had bladder problems. So maybe a trip to the vet might help solve the problem. I still remember one trip with both of them and they both peed in the vets surgery! On the way back we had to park the car because we couldn't stop laughing.
Our cats also couldn't resist "treading" on anything woolly, so we had to be vigilant all the time.
Good luck with the February Lady Sweater.
A Dutch knitter
Posted by: willemtje at July 1, 2008 12:33 PM