When I first brought Horatio home - he was Trouble with a capital T. I never had an indoor cat before, and didn’t realize that they can and will chew. I knew dogs chewed things, but cats? Never heard of it before.

I first noticed my coffee maker cord was chewed, then my phone and answering machine cords were almost, but not quite, severed. I lived in fear for my TV/VCR cords. Finally I did the only thing I could do-I bought a stand for my TV and VCR, and pushed it up against the wall. My stereo was behind glass doors, so I just hid all the cords behind. I blocked the speaker stands, so he couldn’t get behind the stereo and chew them. Until the TV stand was assembled, I purchased some spray that was supposed to keep animals away. I sprayed pieces of cloth, and laid them on the cords. Well, when I came home from work, I found him sitting pleased as punch on the cloth with the spray on it. I could swear he was laughing.

Someone suggested tabasco sauce on the cords. I found him licking off the cords. The little beggar liked spice-the hotter the better apparently!! I also tried slicing hot peppers and rubbing it on the cords. This worked, but it would wear off, and you’d have to reapply it frequently.

What saved his life was I discovered hard plastic shower curtain rod covers. I bought some, cut them, and hid the cords inside. It would have saved me a lot of time, expense, and stress if I had known this simple and cheap idea when I first brought him home.

Then when the cords were all out of harms way, he started chewing the cupboards. If I went to work, came home, and left for the gym, he would really pay me back big time. All the cupboards were starting to have holes in the corners. I found a salve that was safe to put on the places where he chewed, but finally just gave up, and didn't leave him home alone at night. My advice to anyone who is getting a kitten, get two if you work all day. People seem to think that cats don't get lonely - well they are wrong.

Also beware the hazards of tin foil. Some cats won't eat it, and will just play with it, but do you really want to take the chance? Many cat books say, scrunch up tin foil, and let your cat play with it. Mine would eat it!! This would result in a huge vet bill, and your cat might not survive.

Another gem I will tell you is ALWAYS have a garbage can with a lid!! That will also save you worry, and a big vet bill. Another tip is never put tin foil in garage. I put it in refrigerator freezer until it is time to take the garbage out to the bin, just in case the lid doesn’t get put on properly.

Also another BIG problem - the older Horatio got the louder he got. He'd cry and pace all night long. I finally had to move to a house and miraculously he quit. I now think he could hear people in the apartment and was protecting me all night. Of course I got no sleep at all!!! All my friends said "Get rid of him", but of course, when you love something and take on the responsibility of it - it's for life. Not until you're tired of it or it's no longer "cute".

When my parents come to visit my Horatio just can’t stand this intrusion into his little world. He has never liked to share me. He starts banging the kitchen cupboard doors. Next he'll jump up on the dishwasher, rattle the wall calendar until it falls on the floor, and then he cries. If I don't pay him any mind, he rolls his food container. (I keep a plastic container of special cat food as a treat on top of the dishwasher). This makes considerable noise, but if I still ignore him, he will knock it onto the floor with a crash. More crying at an increased level of agitation. Then he knocks the phone off the hook. The phone is directly above tin containers of hard cat food, so it hits them with a sound like a pistol shot. Now that he's all warmed up, he will zing into the living room, and rattle the chain on the inside door.

Much to my parents' amusement, I've found if I pull a bar stool up beside me, Horatio will come and sit regally upon it while we’re playing cards. He will watch the game, but mostly he sits and stares at me with love in his eyes. No more crying or carrying on. He just wants to be a part of what he thinks he is missing out on, but most of all he just wants to be near me. How can I get mad at him for that?

Some things you can find solutions for, but some you can’t. If you love your pet, you will keep him, faults and all.

I'm sure it's all a big game in his mind. One thing I can say is with him my life is far from dull. I wouldn’t want him any other way.

Author: Sharon Anne Serbin
Country: Canada
Age: 52
True story: Yes
Rating: 5 paws up
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