Curiosity being what it is, the cats have long hankered to get into the attic. We have a pull-down staircase/ladder that leads up and all three of them have, at one time or another, tried to investigate while the ladder was down.
Rufus has been known to wedge himself between rungs of the ladder to resist removal. Kimi has been known to grab onto rungs and hang on for dear life as we try to pry her loose. Katsu, who is our smallest cat and champion leaper, has managed to get 2/3 of the way up to the attic opening in one bound...
Last night Kimi was the first cat to reach the far reaches of the attic, where no cat has gone before (and never will again if we have anything to say about it).
I was getting my Christmas embroidery project out of one of the plastic tubs in the attic. It is a Christmas project that has been in progress for about 25 years and will someday be completed but not for a long time as I only work on it for 2 weeks out of the year.
I had very carefully made sure that the electric fireplace in our bedroom was turned on - an event guaranteed to draw all cats to it's vicinity. It is on the other side of the house from the attic opening and I was certain that all three fuzzbutts were toasting themselves in the warmth of the artificial flames...
I went into the attic (very quietly) and began rummaging in the two clear plastic tubs with the red (locking) handles that we purchased last year when the last of our decrepit cardboard boxes died.
Suddenly something furry brushed past my leg and headed for the darkened corner of the attic where the roof met the floor...the only part of the attic that has flooring is the center 8 feet under the ridge of the roof...Kimi was escaping onto insulation (luckily for her, batting).
She, of course, refused to come when I called and began to skulk along the edge of the roof by the outside vents. After a minute of fruitless calling and cadjoling, I yelled for Stubble.
He ran up from the family room where he had been either saving the galaxy from aliens or racing around the well known tracks of the world in a fast car and immediately dove into the attic once I had assurred him that the cat was indeed up there.
With his sharp young eyes, he could see the miscreant at the far end of the attic. With his young knees and flexible back he was able to bend double and sprint after the cat, scooping her up, spinning around and making it back to the opening in the time that it took me to climb up and stick my head through the opening into the attic space.
He repeatedly told Kimi what a bad girl she was as he brought her out of the attic. Words she soundly ignored as she turned right around and ran up the ladder and into the attic again. With both of us trying to grab her before she entered. This time he caught up with her just inside the top of the ladder.
I can only hope that she doesn't tell Rufus and Katsu about the wonders of the dark corners of the attic space and the joys of tormenting the woman who buys their food..,.,
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