Never
“Any glimpse into the life of an animal quickens our own and makes it so much the larger and better in every way.”
John Muir
“Our beds provide a safe place for your cat to relax in; with the raised rim, ultra soft padding and covers, it allows them to mimic being hugged by their mother.” So says the advertisement for the plush, round kitty bed we got for our Dusty. Now doesn’t that sound inviting? Who, of any species, wouldn’t love to be hugged by their mother?
Dusty, apparently. She wanted nothing to do with the thing.
Two winters ago, my husband bought me a large, soft, heavy-weight robe/blanket affair for Christmas. I loved it. And the first time I used it so did Dusty. I took it off for what I thought would be a brief moment only while I went into the next room. I threw it higgledy-piggledy onto the sofa. When I returned, Dusty was burrowed right in, mostly covered. I couldn’t bring myself to remove her from it, she looked so very comfortable and pleased. She co-opted my robe at that moment; it became hers.
I mulled it over for the next year, watching jealously as she enjoyed what had been my gift. But spring, then summer, came, and I didn’t need it for awhile. She retained and took great pleasure in it year-round. I considered, come fall, getting a second one so we each would have one for the upcoming winter. And then I decided to try something else: something much smaller but made of similar material, something more manageable and much less of an eyesore than the huge bundle the robe made on our sofa. That’s when I found and ordered the “Marshmallow,” a plush and fluffy bed made for cats.
It’s been over a year and she’s never willingly gotten into it. I made the mistake, early on, of placing her in it myself. I won’t be misjudging a situation that badly ever again.
I’ve had it everywhere in the house at various times, pulling it out every few months, spraying it anew with a cat-attracting substance, sometimes applying catnip. She steadfastly ignores it. My most recent – and, I believe, my last – attempt was to place it in yet another of her favorite sleeping locations under a desk in the bedroom. It’s near a heater vent and she loves it there. You can see (picture) what happened. She managed to make herself a small space right next to it, where she could sleep in comfort. She did not get in.
Dusty makes us laugh all the time. Her crazy, quirky, but ever-sweet disposition has endeared her to us. We don’t really mind much that she won’t sleep where we want her to. We’re just so glad she’s ours.
God created the animals for us to love, interact with, and take care of. On day six of the creation week they were produced, as was man. “Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name” (Genesis 2:19, NIV). “You made him (man) lord over the works of Your hands; You put everything under his feet: all the sheep and oxen, as well as animals in the wild, birds of the sky, and fish of the sea passing through the currents of the seas” (Psalm 8:6-8, HCSB).
We have a responsibility to the animals that share this planet with us. Their well-being depends upon our taking our caretaking duties seriously. And our pets even more so. We do for them, provide for them, make a safe place for them, and buy them things to improve their comfort.
But we’re never going to get Dusty into that bed.
18 Comments
Beth
Oh my, but this is so familiar! We bought our Fancy a weight-activated heated pad in the citest little “house”. She spent one evening in it and then never went in it a gr ain, no matter where we placed it or what we put on it. Gotta love God’s creatures, and we do! 💕
Carolyn Karlstrom
Oh, that’s funny! That little sweetheart. They sure have their own minds, don’t they?!?! But they wouldn’t be cats and we wouldn’t love them like we do if they didn’t!! Thanks for responding. 🐱
Cheryl Nelson
I guess the experiment with you on he “Marshmallow ” for a while didn’t work huh? Lol! Can’t fool that Dusty! Well, maybe it will make a great chair cushion😂
As you know, we also love out Talouse ( even though he is a “Mr Grumpy-Pants”).
He loves you too… and you know why 😉
ckarlstrom
Yes, I do know why! And no, my spending time with Dusty’s bed didn’t change her feelings for it at all. It’s a no-go!! I need to get it to you for Talouse to try. Thanks for your post. 🙂
Nancy Hoppe
I just read a few days that if you want a cat to sleep in a certin place, put
an article of your own clothing in it, like a Tshirt. So I tried it with a flannel
pj top that I don’t wear very often, and Stormy now sleeps there awhile every day.
It is the bed at the top of his scratching post. Terry bought one of those big
fluffy beds for my cats, no one ever used it so I took it to our church sale.
Carolyn Karlstrom
I tried something similar with this bed and it’s still a no-go!!! 😬
Nancy Hoppe
That’s supposed to read “a fewdays ago.
And I love that photo, Dusty’s face does say “Never”.
Carolyn Karlstrom
It does, doesn’t it?!?!
Trudie
Awww, Dusty, Just “try it, you’ll like it” Lol Cats really have a mind of their own! If they only knew what us humans do for them! 😅 I had bought a round, heated bed, and my older cat loved it! Every night at 9:30 PM, she went down and slept in that bed until morning. But she was older and a frail body welcomed the warmth and comfort…I sure miss her♥️
Carolyn Karlstrom
Oh, I’ll bet you do! They sure grab us by the heart, don’t they?!?! And never let go . . .
Sherri
I love that story and the picture of Dusty! What a cutie…make that a “stubborn” cutie!
You’ve seen lots of pictures of our Holy Terrier Beau, but my favorites are of him in his beds. Plural. One in the kitchen, one in the family room which looks like the marshmallow, only black, one for the computer room, and one in our bedroom. On our bed. That’s the one he prefers, of course! It’s actually for a c-a-t, but we never told him that. Pets certainly do add a lot to our lives–lots of love and laughter!
ckarlstrom
Four (4!) beds!! Oh, how funny – that little guy has it made, sounds like. No question about who’s in charge at your house. This is making me smile. Thanks for the sweet report . . . ❤️
Susie
Have YOU tried the new bed? Perhaps Dusty is wanting you to have it since you so willingly gave up your robe….just a thought.
Carolyn Karlstrom
You’ve probably nailed it!!! 😂
Marlys
That sounds sooo familiar !! We had a covered bed for Floki. He refused to use it. It sat in our bedroom for a long time. Finally we have it to our “grandsons cat” and she loves it. Maybe he just wanted to share 😁
ckarlstrom
They’re the funniest, sweetest little creatures, aren’t they?! Your Floki is so handsome!! Thx for your comment . . .
Denise Kincaid
Cats are the best–I still miss my big kitty. He loved sitting on the arm of my couch every morning right up against my arm while I read the newspaper and drank my coffee. He was my quiet partner–I loved him so much.
ckarlstrom
They’re easy to love, for sure. Such precious sweethearts!! Thx so much for commenting!