Saturday, May 21, 2016

Kitty Litter

Kitty litter helps to keep me grounded.

Hmm. ........ I wrote that opening sentence a couple of weeks ago and then put the post on the bench.  Guess I needed to ponder just what I meant when I wrote it. ...............

I seem to recollect a meaningful and thought provoking deep narrative about the special place in my heart I store the notion of kitty litter.  Of course by the time I sat down in front of this screen, all I could spit up was that opening line.  So I let it simmer, hoping my short term memory would make a brief comeback.   While I think I have retrieved some of that original thought, I am sure what will follow will not be quite on it's original target.

I have always enjoyed the company of cats and dogs.  So, when I was able to, I invited them into my life and me into theirs.  Five dogs since the 1980s and well, I am guessing here, but at least 30 to 40 cats have passed through our doors in that time.  The high number of cats, the result of more than a few litters we dealt with as volunteers for a nearby shelter.  But at one point there were 9 full timing little bastards running amok in our house and yard.

I figure I have scooped at the least a couple of tons of kitty litter over the years.   During that time, I have learned a thing or two about scooping poops.

It is impossible to ignore a litter tray forever.  There are other must do chores I can walk around and leave for significant periods of time.  Dishes, grass growing in my yard, dirty car,vacuuming, and dusting shelves are a few of the many chores I can ignore with the best of them.  Kitty litter however is not one of them, especially in a multi-cat household like ours.  Skip a day and immediately the litter is out of control and it can be days before order to the odor is restored.

The must do aspect of kitty litter has a silver lining.  Because I cannot ignore it, dealing with it has forced me to include some basic structure to my daily flow.  Scooping litter may be mindless, unpleasant work,  but it gives me a moment every day to let my mind focus on nothing while my hands go automatic.

Kitty litter is a metaphor for Life.  Shit happens in every life.  And dealing with it is the only sane thing to do.

Keep it 'tween the ditches ...............................................

7 comments:

BBC said...

The last cats I lived with wouldn't use a litter box, they insisted on going outside.

Ol'Buzzard said...

My cats would be upset if their litter wasn't cleaned at least twice a day. Once a cat is use to a routine they expect it.
the Ol'Buzzard

Anonymous said...

Cats can also teach us the importance of naps! I'am not lazy, I am saving my energy for when I really need it! :-)

yellowdoggranny said...

if Tk poops in a clean liter box...Dexter will not poop in it..he will poop right in front of the toilet..the shit head.

PipeTobacco said...

I like the analogy of there being shot in every life and just dealing with it! Very well stated!'

PipeTobacco

PipeTobacco said...

Shot = shit

The Blog Fodder said...

We have three cats and three litter boxes. Cleaning them is my job, every morning. They only get used in winter. In summer the cats go out in the garden. Our purpose in life is to open doors for cats. Day and night