"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." ---John 14:6
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Be Careful What You Teach Your Cat
Don't make the same mistake I did.
I taught my daughter's cat, Oreo, a new trick two weeks ago. As I've mentioned before, Oreo loves to play with his plastic fishing pole, the one with feathers at the end of the plastic string. He'll race around and around in circles chasing after that thing as you swing it around just above the carpet. He'll chase it until he falls over, if you let him.
He adores that fishing pole. I step from my bedroom door while it's still dark in the morning and here comes Oreo meowing with those silly feathers in his mouth, wanting to play. Throughout the day he stares at you, not blinking, until you get up and swing that fishing pole around for him. It's eerie. He is eerie.
Well, I thought it would be cute to teach Oreo to nibble on my toes whenever he wanted me to get up from a chair and play Fishing Pole Tag with him.
Never teach a cat a 'cute trick.'
Now, whenever Oreo sees my still, sock-clad foot, he sneaks up on me and starts chewing on my toes.
At first it was cute. Even hilarious, according to Tom.
But now? Sigh. I can't even have an uninterrupted morning quiet time. Now I must always pay attention as to where my feet are located while sitting in my chair. I must tuck my feet beneath my robe and sit on them or the darn cat will nibble on my toes and I will be forced to get up and play Fishing Pole Tag yet again.
It took consistency to teach Oreo a new trick. And now that he has learned it, I'm obligated to follow through out of my sense of integrity. After all, I did teach him this new trick. I did reward him over and over for toe-nibbling.
This all reminds me of what good ol' Doctor Phil constantly drawls:
"We teach people how to treat us."
Boy, is that true.
Be careful what you teach not only your cat, but your kids. Your spouse. Your in-laws. Your friends.
Teach them that you are a people-pleasing, never-say-no person and they just may never forget it.
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4 comments:
So true. So very true. It's so hard to break habits that you've taught others or yourself!
I taught my cats to bring me the toy if they want to play with it. So cute. Also, when they're hungry, I taught them to stand on their hind legs by their feeder. See Picture. :)
So true Debra. When we got our Boston terrier, he didn't know how to play with toys at all. My husband taught him "fetch" and that dog will cry and whine everyday until we do. And we do! Yoi!
Jeanette--Loved the picture of your adorable cats! They look like fun. Thanks!
Diane--Long time, no hear from! Your dog sounds a lot like Oreo, too. :o)
Aren't pets great? God bless... Debra
you're black cat looks like my cat Rockie. I've written about him several times in my blog, usually about something nutty he does.
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