The kittens were in the middle of their post-breakfast rumble, and were running hard and playing wild in the living room.
Cedric and Rutherford were involved in a round of "King of the Scratching Post" and I stood about three feet away from this game, with a bowl of cereal and raspberries in my hands. I was still a little sleepy, and although I was looking in their direction, I wasn't entirely focused on the two.
I'm not sure what possessed him to do so, but all of a sudden, Rutherford launched his floofy orange self from the top of the post. He was airborne and heading in my direction. My hands were full, so there was nothing to do but to stand there and wait to see where he landed.
Well, he landed on me. Actually, I should say, he tried to land on me.
He sunk his tiny, razor-sharp toenails through my paper-thin jammies and into my skin. He slid down, leaving several rows of scratches on my stomach. Once he released his grip, he dropped to the ground like a rock.
Of course when all of this was happening, cereal, raspberries, and milk were flying. I managed to keep a grip on the bowl, but the mess spread far. Rutherford and Cedric got splashed, but the others stayed clean. The rug saw the worst of it.
Everyone scrambled to lap up the milk, but I grabbed them all, and put them in their room while I cleaned up the mess,
No, there are no photographs to document this scene, but there may be some scars.
That little sweet face caused all of the problems?! :)
ReplyDeleteWith that innocent face and no photographic evidence, I think you'll be hard-pressed to get a conviction. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm with Susan on this one. No evidence, and Rutherford denies it all. The others also agree that they were unfairly detained.
ReplyDeleteOuch! Those germ laden little stabbers really leave an itchy sore track. Battle scars for the kitten wrangler.
ReplyDeleteOh, this gave me the shivers. Ow ow ow! I assume you have some Bacitracin on the premises? And with such a cute face -- oh, you can't trust even the sweetest kitty to keep from ripping you to shreds. Well, we know he didn't mean to hurt you ... but OW
ReplyDeletePretty is as pretty does. Rutherford will need to donate his cat toy allowance to the FUNdraiser in perpetuity. Hope you're ok, Laurie!
ReplyDeletePretty is as pretty does. Rutherford will need to donate his cat toy allowance to the FUNdraiser in perpetuity. Hope you're ok, Laurie!
ReplyDeletePretty is as pretty does. Rutherford will need to donate his cat toy allowance to the FUNdraiser in perpetuity. Hope you're ok, Laurie!
ReplyDeleteI have some nice scars from similar stunts, including my thighs, when a cat jumped from the bathtub into my lap when I was going to the bathroom! *sigh*
ReplyDeleteI'm with Susan too: No photographic evidence and a clearly innocent defendant, it'll be hard to get charges to stick to that adorable orange floof.
ReplyDeleteHe even has those crazy kitty eyes in this picture. Guilty as charged, Rutherford!
ReplyDeleteHe just wanted to be close to you, and to bring a little excitement into your otherwise dull morning...
ReplyDeleteOh.....
ReplyDeletethe hazards of kitty wrangling!
ReplyDeleteMy donation fund is pretty much tapped out but this post has me doing some creative money management just because the vision of all the above is worth giving up some luxury or other. Off to ponder the budget...I hate pondering the budget, but.....(old gray mare)
ReplyDeletei agree with susan, i dont know if a conviction is possible. I rule NOT GUILTY.
ReplyDeleteOuch! Poor Laurie. Well, the good news is you may have avoided a trip to the vet since you obviously softened the landing for Rutherford. I think his leaping at you was a gesture of love - he just wanted to be close to his favorite human. You have to forgive him for good intentions, right? Let's hope he doesn't repeat this maneuver with Charlene or he'll be the one with scratch marks!
ReplyDeleteAnd may I add that his fur looks beautiful - have you been brushing him or is that Charlene's grooming?
ReplyDeleteLaurie, that story was so funny! Worthy of Lilith Saintcrow and the squirrels... well written!
ReplyDeleteOne glorious day when I we meet again I will show you the scars on my face from when a kitten decided to jump from a tree to the next tallest object. Thank goodness scars fade. Sorry you got hurt and have to clean up a big ol' mess :\ Rutherford, little man, you gotta plan your landings and aim for non-human objects, kay?
ReplyDeleteI could faint dead away from the sweetness.
ReplyDeleteBeen there, with the scars to prove it! :) Hard to know whether to scream or laugh when it's happening, right? :)
ReplyDeleteAt least you admit you were not truly awake enough to realize Ruddy's flying leap was only because you needed some loves and he needed some milks. But you have my utmost sympathy about the scratches. Kitten claws are super-duper sharp and our bellies are tender turf.
ReplyDeleteawww, Laurie that must have hurt! hope it heals quickly and i'm sure sweet little Rutherford didn't mean to hurt you and is very sorry that he did. he's probably working out how to make it up to you at this very moment.
ReplyDeleteOuch! Kitties are very good at springing at humans when they're least expected, aren't they? And it's a skill that only improves with age; my 16.5-year-old Emily narrowly missed my eye the other night while rampaging across the bed, which I shut just in time, fortunately -- but still leaving me with an inch-long scrape on my eyelid! With all the healthy, active kitties you foster, I'm surprised you have as few scars as you do, to tell the truth. (Not that you begrudge a one of them, I'm sure!)
ReplyDeleteOh my, Rutherford! I am sure he meant no harm, just look at that sweet, innocent little face.
ReplyDeleteThis story reminds me of the time when I was standing in my running shorts, getting ready to go out for a run, but was un-tangling my Ipod headphones first...apparently those dangling white wires were just too attractive to my then 5 month old Hunca Munca, who launched herself from across the carpet and latched on to my BARE upper thighs with her claws...and I had to lift her up to UNHOOK her...yikes! I won't soon forget that.
I guess he just wanted to share in the bounty. ;D
ReplyDeleteI agree. Pix or it didn't happen.
ReplyDeleteDr. NO only makes that ultra-innocent face when he is utterly at fault. It's a good thing Rutherford is still a juvenile and his record will be sealed.
ReplyDeleteOwie zowie!! Laurie, I am sooo sorry about this. Curtains are one thing, skin is quite another.
ReplyDeleteOur marmy boy Keith has turned out to be a leaper, catching us totally by surprise and often as unprepared as you were. I haven't decided if it's blind trust or a death wish.
Ouch! There is nothing more excruciating than needle-sharp kitten claws!
ReplyDeleteLaurie, I foster kittens in Northern Virginia. It's always easy to tell when the fosters reach the early climbing phase because I am *covered* in tiny scratches from head to toe! I invest a lot in rubbing alcohol.
ReplyDeleteHahaha, no pics needed Laurie, your words set the scene perfectly.
ReplyDeleteWe had a kitten in college who had a knack for running across rooms, launching, and attaching himself to people's pants. Unfortunately, he kept this up when he was bigger, and didn't check to make sure you were wearing jeans first. Pity the person who entered a room with shorts on . . .
ReplyDeleteOn the off chance that you're late to this discovery like I was - the best way to tend to cat scratches (once they've stopped actually bleeding) is with one of the brush-on liquid bandage products which have antibiotic already in them. It's MUCH easier than Band-Aids, and more effective, and it does a good job of preventing scars. Survives washing, too!
ReplyDelete