Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Release the Hound







I'm hoping everyone remembers the kitten in the well house that we found the third week in April...if I was smart and knew how to say "see here" and have the link pop up, that's what would be going on right now. Smart people have tried to teach me. Smart people have failed. Other than keeping my sons here full time to "ghost" for me, I'm afraid you're just going to have to take my word for it...we found a two week old kitten in the well. Mac and I took loving care of her and bottle fed her (every two hours the first two weeks....talk about tired, my own babies weren't that much work). Like all kittens or cats, she was easily litter trained, so at least there were no nappies to change. She grew so attached to me, she would run across the floor when I entered the room and climb up my leg to get to my shoulder. Now that was all well and good when her highness was 4 weeks old, weighed a feather, and no one had put the steel in her claws. Now I need to don chain mail to enter a room. She plays rough, too. She has no siblings to learn how far she can go, therefore she goes as far as she wants. She bites the hand that feeds her. All in play, of course. Like a lot of people I know, she doesn't know her own strength. I was on the phone with Evil Sister the other day and the wee one was fighting with my hand....run jump on the couch, attack my hand, run back down to the floor...repeat...and I said "ow" quite loudly. Evil Sister said, "what happened?" "I think she may have drawn blood," I said. Evil Sister told me to take two fingers and tap her sharply on the forehead. "That's what the mother cat does to correct the kittens," she said knowingly. They had adopted a four week old motherless kitten named GrayC...and believe me, I'll be writing more about that tyr...er, sweet kitty at a future date. So anyway, I take two fingers and tap her sharply on the forehead. As I peeled a pound of fury off my arm, I asked ES "any more smart ideas?" "It didn't work?" she asked, and I swear she didn't believe me. "Not only did it not work, I think I may need stitches!" Even now, as I sit in the office and write this, I can hear the thundering herd that is my sweet baby as she runs from room to room looking for fresh meat. We named her Lady Wellington, isn't that precious? Now, in the mornings when I arise, Mac lays in bed and says in his best Basil Rathbone voice "release the hound!" which means to let the baby come in and jump on the bed and gnaw him till he's bloodied or says "calf roe". So guess what? Her name is now and forever more will be, Hound.

34 comments:

Jan said...

Little baby kitty teeth and claws...what could possibly be sharper. She's lovin' her new home and her new parents so much! Lucky kitty! What a great name...both Lady Wellington AND Hound!

Jan

LivingTheLife said...

She sounds like a delightful handful! I don't know if this will work...but with dogs...when they are doing something there mother disapproves of...she will make a growling sound that means business at them. So, maybe you could make a hissing/screachy "loud" sound at her anytime she does something that is not appropriate behavior for a "Lady"...lol! Actually, this may sound cruel...but my sister has 3 crazy/physco cats (plus she must be a little crazy having 3 cats) anyhoo...she uses a water bottle on her cats/kitties...when they are misbehaving she squirts them with a water bottle or water pistol...yes...hmmmm... that just seems wrong now that I think of it...the water pistol, I mean. She claims it works if you happen to have the water bottle/pistol handy at the same time..."said" uncoothe behavior takes place. Good luck...it is obvious that she is very much loved...and will soon rule supreme...if not already!! Gotta love that!

Blessings...
Teresa

Anonymous said...

fireball for sure! She's still looks so adorable!!

Anonymous said...

I second both the growl/hiss, and the water squirt! I always yelp loudly if a new (older/rescue) dog hurts me by accident. It usually works like a charm. I've used the water too.

Sheesh, you don't want to be a walking sieve, no matter how cute she is!

'Hound'! LOL!

Mima said...

Sandi, sounds like she has some learning to do yet, but that she is already fairly sure of her place in the household - which is obviously at the top of the chain! I can't believe that you were feeding every two hours, I didn't realise that you had ended up that sleep deprived during her first couple of weeks. Sending you lots of warm and cuddly thoughts hoping that "Hound" will pick some of them up too!

Jeni said...

Love your stories about "baby kitten-growing kitten-GrayC-Lady Wellington-Hound" -just a look at her face and it's like you can see the impishness shining through.
The water pistol suggestion - we used that on our late, great Gracie Baby cat because she had a bad habit of wanting to walk on the kitchen cabinets (especially if there was open food anywhere) and she also like to hop up on the dining room table -with or without food present. It took a little while -as she was probably 12-13 years old when my son-in-law came up with this training tool but it did tone down her actions a little bit.

Vee said...

Hound sounds like a hellion. I certainly hope that she can be trained.

My son had a cat named Miss Binks. She bit the hand that fed her...his bride's. Gave her a horrible infection and, needless to say, it came down to a case of "it's either Miss Binks or me." I have grandsons so we know how that turned out.

Unknown said...

Too cute Sandi!! Release the hound, that's too funny. I really like the name Lady Wellington, it makes her sounds regal. My kitty is named Cleopatra but we call her Cleo. I love giving kitties fancy names. Ouch on the biting and claws!

Unknown said...

Oh I sooo understand Sandi! Bonnie has decided the best way to get to me is to climb up my pants, well today I have cut-offs on!

They're worth it though and I just say 'NO' loud and firm which she already seems to be paying attention too.

Ok off to find the meme I owe you

Akelamalu said...

She loves you!

Pam said...

HA! I love it, "release the hound"!
You might want to keep a water spray bottle for corrections. Of course, this never worked for my Siamese cat. Imagine that!?

Anonymous said...

She turned out to be a very pretty kitchen. My outside cat had five little ones while I was at Rians. I was so afraid she wouldn't be able to tend to them. she is the one that got shaved and she is just not real strong. So far so good. I will have to post them soon.

Angie(quillysilly) said...

WHile I don't envy your shredded fingers, she certainly looks like an innocent cutie! And I love the play on the name!! Angie

Cath said...

LMAO. Oh Sandi! That kitten has got you well and truly trained!
I'm afraid Evil Sister is right - and persistence is the key. Just like with children. They will try you out and see if you meant it - when they see it happening again and again they get the message. Sometimes a child has to be told the same thing a number of times before they learn...

The other thing you could do is use your voice. I have now got the stage with Bubble where she knows the tone of my voice and if I say "Get down off there!" sharply she obeys - because she knows she shouldn't be there (been knocked off [gently] thousands of times) so the voice tells her and she knows... But she will always try again.

One other thing - if something is an absolute NO, eg. sinking teeth into skin, it must ALWAYS be no. There can be no exceptions because a cat doesn't know when it is playtime and when you are not in the mood. Consistency is the key. E.g. in our house, with 4 cats, it is impossible to police them all the time and keep them off kitchen sides and tables. But once they have been wiped with disinfectant and food prep is going on - they stay on the floor and they know it. The kittens took a while to train, and still have to be told at times a year on, but it is not as bad as it was!

Bubble and Squeak used to climb up my leg when they were little and hang off my jeans whilst I did their food. Curiously, I was in jeans a lot of the time then... ;0)

Cath said...

Just to clarify - on rereading - I disinfect the kitchen sides and table before eating, not the cats! lol

A water spray would work too if you like but you (a) have to have it handy all the time and (b) have to be prepared to clear up sprayed water. I only tend to use it on other cats in the garden if they are bothering my cats or digging in my garden. It's not cruel - it is like another cat hissing at them.

San said...

So Hound doesn't know her own strength? Does she know her own beauty? It's enormous.

Jeanne said...

LOL I love the "release the hound" comment from Mac. Those little kitten teeth are sharp..ouchies! Ooh I just got taught how to do the linkie thing last night. It's really easy. First you gotta have what you want to link 'copied'. Then as you write your post type what you want to call the link i.e. post or here. Highlight that word then click on the thing that looks like a chain on the posting page and a little box will open with http already in it. 'paste' what you had 'copied', click ok and you should be good. If I learned it..hehe..you can!

Kari (GrannySkywalker) said...

We had a cat once, named Herman. Herman was...interesting. He couldn't find his food dish if you moved it 2 inches from where he saw it last, he couldn't tell if a sliding glass door was open unless he was right in front of the open part - he's literally sit a foot from the open door and meow at the glass. Dumb cat. Then he'd let you pet him - he'd purr like a maniac - then he'd attack. He drew blood - lots of blood. Lots of times. Dumb cat. He wouldn't even walk half the time. He'd just lay on his side and pull himself across the carpet using his claws. When he darn near took Desiree's eye out one day, that's when we carted him down to the Nice Kitty Hotel (as we told the kids) where'd he'd get to live with all the other horrid...er, I mean, strong willed, little kitties. Dumb, dumb cat. The only animal I've ever turned over to the "authorities". If I had to do it all over again, though, I'D DO THE SAME DAMN THING. That dumb, dumb, dumb cat.

But I'm sure your sweet little Hound will learn her manners soon enough. There's only one Herman in this world and we've already had him. You should be in the clear. (I say that as I'm smiling through gritted teeth...just the thought of Herman makes my teeth clinch)

Love you!
Sissy

Jamie Dawn said...

Poor Lady Wellington has had her title taken from her because of such unladylike behavior.
Hound is perfecto!!
Keep band aids & disinfectant on hand to tend to your wounds.

Jamie Dawn said...

Next time you see your Evil Sis, thump HER on the head!

Woman in a Window said...

I had a little hell kitten about 83 years ago that ran me like that except it resembled a rabied bat. That thing is STILL alive but now lives with my sister. Who's the smart one now?

Susie Q said...

I LOVE her! You know, Bill has always used that "Release the Hounds" line..for years! I even thought of calling Kipper Basil!

I think the name is perfect and I love that these sweeties have such a blessing of a home.

Love,
Sue

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

You can really make the person you are telling the story to feel as though they are there with you. I loved it...Hugs...Mary

merry weather said...

Ha-ha - release the hound! I do like that. Starting the day with a good laugh, life in your house sounds a lot of fun.

She must be adorable, how lucky you found her :).

I'm lucky you found me! I've done the tag at last (been away on hols). You could be a life-coach you know Sandi, you're very motivating, thanks...!

Lib said...

Hi Sandi,
What a delightful hand full you have there.lol
We live in the country and seen some thinks if you live in the country you want everyones strays.
We have 3 precious kittens someone thought we'd want.lol Guess they were correct as the have a Loving home here. We spend almost as much on cat food as people food ,can't stand the thoughts of a hungry animal.
Have a great day!
Blessins',Lib

Lee said...

Sandi, I totally sympathize with you on the kitten not knowing when it has gone too far. Hooboo gets in these feisty moods and is just at everyone. He goes tearing around, attacks Hyram, and then jumps on the bed and attacks my hand which is trying to pet him. I've learned to recognize his posture that says "attack!" That helps quite a bit. But it is so instinctive to pull my hand back when he jumps forward and that means play to him at that point. So I draw away slowly. Stop playing. And try to make slow nice. It didn't work last nice but my voice let him know I wasn't happy with his behavior.

No guarantees on this but sometimes an "anh anh" sounds works. It's that one you make through your nose when saying unh unh with an "a" sound. Someone told me its the sound that mother dogs use for their puppies. It seem to be somewhat effective on kittens too. So is grabbing them by the carrying spot that mother used for transport. If that skin is given a slight shake they tend to go limp in preparation for being carried. It might save you some claw marks.

Good luck and keep plenty of band aids and triple antibiotic ointment around. Kitty claw and tooth marks can cause some pretty serious infections in humans.

Hugs!

Donna said...

Such a Cute Hound at That!!LOL Great story!!hughugs

Country Cottage Chic said...

I am reading this with tears rolling down by face as I laugh hysterically....

Anonymous said...

Oh yes she was well praised. I hope to start her a photo book of her cooking skills that she will keep and be proud of.

Christine Boles said...

"Lady Wellington~ Hound, for short" ~
I like it!

i beati said...

cool they fit into their names don't they - The parent of Bitty Bopper , and Mello..Toppy

Max-e said...

Hi Sandi, thanks for stopping by. I you you and your husband are cat people. We have recently been owned by a siamese "mongrel", I say mongrel, because she has tabby stripes on her legs. Quite a delight though

Dragonstar said...

I love this story! She looks such a cutie - but rather you than me! Good luck.

CatHerder said...

Make sure your vet checks the kitten for BARTONELLA. We brought in a stray, now our entire herd has it. It causes cat scratch fever in humans and 22 other diseases, its very dangerous...we have 5 kitties on Zithromax again for a month...turns out its EXTREMELY common for strays, they get it from flea bites. Good luck!!!!!