{"id":602089,"date":"2024-05-17T10:00:55","date_gmt":"2024-05-17T14:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/?p=602089"},"modified":"2024-05-24T11:16:44","modified_gmt":"2024-05-24T15:16:44","slug":"one-mans-trash-is-another-cats-treasure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/felines-weekly\/one-mans-trash-is-another-cats-treasure\/","title":{"rendered":"One Man’s Trash is Another Cat’s Treasure (with Video)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hi, I\u2019m Dr. Karyn!\u00a0Read my introduction<\/a>\u00a0to learn more about me and meet my five hilarious cats: Clutch, Cyril, Alex, Zelda, and Zazzles.<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are certain sounds that cats cannot resist – peeling back the lid of a can, the shake of the kibble box, or the opening of a refrigerator door – for Alex, it\u2019s the rustle of paper being screwed up into a ball. I can be anywhere in the house, at any time of the day, and as soon as my hand starts to close around that piece of paper\u2026Boom! The ginger ninja is there, long whiskers twitching, eyes wide, waiting to pounce.<\/p>\n

You might recall that I recently talked about indoor cats and whether they should be allowed to hunt<\/a>. When I watch the waves of anticipation ripple over Alex\u2019s back as he readies himself to pounce on the unsuspecting ball of paper that has been so carelessly (strategically) tossed aside, I can see that he is able to flex his predatory instincts in a way that is safe for him, and seems to provide him with plenty of satisfaction.<\/p>\n

\"Alex
Alex keeps his eyes on the prize.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fresh is Best<\/h3>\n

Alex is quite particular about the quality of his crinkly quarry – evidently this type of game only stays fresh for a short time, and he\u2019s soon back on the prowl. You might think that events like Christmas would be Alex\u2019s idea of heaven, but not so. Apparently, the attraction of the paper prey is significantly reduced when available in large numbers – sort of like \u2018shooting fish in a barrel\u2019. It\u2019s only fun if he needs to hone his instincts<\/a> and strike with the precision of his wild ancestors, and evidently, being surrounded by a flurry of discarded wrapping paper and ribbon doesn\u2019t have the same appeal!<\/p>\n

Do the other cats get in on the action? Strangely, no; this is just Alex\u2019s arena. Cyril occasionally looks on curiously, his fuzzy little brow furrowed in concentration, trying to work out the game, losing interest when he realizes there is no food reward.<\/p>\n

\"Hunting,
Hunting, indoor cat style.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When the hilarious duo, Ned & Fred, joined our household, there was suddenly competition. The tiny Chihuahuas are equally enamored of rustling wrappers, though they are usually motivated by the hope that there is something delicious contained within. Alex was initially put off by the Chihuahua\u2019s energetic interference, but he now seems to enjoy the added difficulty level.<\/p>\n

Zelda\u2019s Stretch Appeal<\/h3>\n

Zelda is another of our hunters, but rather than engage in something as crass as chasing paper balls, her target requires something of a more stealthy approach. Hair ties and rubber bands<\/a> are her quarry of choice, and she has a remarkable ability to sniff them out. Being that we would very much like to avoid these items lodging themselves in her intestines, this is something we try to prevent, but the fact that we actively deter and intercept her hunt seems to make it all the more satisfying for her.<\/p>\n

\"Spoils
Spoils of the Hunt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On more than one occasion I have walked into the ensuite in the middle of the night to find Zelda precariously balanced on the shower door, trying to reach the hair tie I carelessly left hanging from the shower caddy. Just last night, she darted through the cat door that leads\u00a0 to the catio outside<\/a>, with a large rubber band clamped firmly between her tiny white teeth. Realizing she had been spotted, she moved like black lightning across the room, equal parts determined and gleeful, knowing I was close behind, wondering how on earth a large rubber band found its way into the catio in the first place. These springy objects are the only toys she has ever shown any interest in<\/a> – unless you count the kitchen sponges she liked to shred into confetti as a kitten – and when I hear her jumping and galloping around upstairs, I know exactly what I will find.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, Zelda has not suffered any gastrointestinal consequences from her choice of prey, and seems to lose interest as soon as she has succeeded in breaking through the band – evidently an elastic string lacks the appeal of the stretchy ring. But I am not willing to take my chances, and so we will continue our little ritual: Zelda, lurking in wait for the opportunity to sniff out an errant elastic band, me, ever alert to her strange little game.<\/p>\n