Are You Kidding Me?

Doink. Doink. Doink…

I was awoken last night around midnight by strange noises coming from the living room. Doink. There was Gizmo on top of the keyboard trying to sabotage my work; my computer was crying for help.

She’s never been very fond of the computer. In fact, weeks ago I returned home one day only to find its down arrow key amputated and tossed to the ground as carelessly as a Big Mac wrapper at a bus stop. Gizmo pretended to be asleep.

Today, she’s been parked on my keyboard on and off since 7 a.m. It’s just her way of saying, “enough, already.”

I’m starting to get the feeling I’m embarrassing her writing about this toilet-training business, but it won’t be for long. Week two is over. The litter box is right next to the toilet and her veterinarian gave the green light to continue the training process.

The vet suspects a chronic bladder infection is the reasons for her low white blood cell count and peeing in the bathtub. Subsequently, she’s on a round or antibiotics and will have more tests done in two weeks—just to be on the safe side. In the meantime, everything is going forward as planned.

The first two weeks were easy. It’s all uphill from here. In week three, I will raise the litter box higher and higher off the ground. When she seems comfortable with that, it’s time to transition to the toilet with the CitiKitti seat.

Jazz man Charles Mingus advised moving the box very gradually into the bathroom. If it’s already there, move it out and back in again. It’s important to get the cat following the litter box.

“If it’s too close to the toilet to begin with, he will not follow it up onto the toilet seat when you move it there,” according to Mingus.

Gizmo’s a smart kitty, I have faith in her. I’ll make sure to post updates often, even with all the interruptions—Doink.