Needed to upgrade my calico's long time small, shallow Amazon box that has doubled as her downstairs bed in my home office. What to do when your cat falls in love with a cardboard box that was meant as a joke but then she won't give it up...for 4 years? We've several 11-year-old sweet, utterly spoiled, adorable siblings that park themselves in my home office with me every day. There're no shortage of comfy couches, beds, chairs and even a plush, cool cat tree in our home. However, as itty bitty orphan kittens this crew chose to cuddle up and sleep together in the chair next to my desk every day. They still do this. After growing into big galoots, only 2 of the 3 now fit in that chair. For fun several years ago, I made a small cat bed out of an Amazon box, decorated it and put a little fleece pad on the bottom. The calico girl immediately adopted it, happy to nap in her own quiet space away from her rowdy brothers. It was cute and everyone honored that box as hers and hers alone. But I always knew the day would come when that raggedy box had to go. This is a very particular cat, who wants things "just so", hates change and has distinct preferences. I mean, her favorite toy remains the one the vet gave her 11 years ago. This past spring, she developed arthritis in one hip, which is now much better and pain free with a daily combo of meds but for which there is no cure. That hip issue will be with her the rest of her life. As deep fall approached, it was clear she'd need something cozy and warmer than the box. Mine are the type of cats who adore paper bags and old worn, beat up toys as their favorites, even though I fruitlessly, constantly try to entice them with new, different often expensive cat stuff. Forget the $50 fancy sisal scratching post, they want the $7 corrugated cardboard. So, I had not one shred of hope she'd give up her security box for an odd domed pineapple. But she did! It helped that her pineapple arrived on the 1st cold day of October. When she walked into another part of the house, I took her little old fleece pad + her cherished tiny stuffed doll and put it on the pineapple's bottom cushion (with her little old box nearby but out of sight). Returning to the office, she cooly walked over to the pineapple, sniffed, looked around suspiciously to see if someone was playing a joke (she's a tad humorless, so we do pull stunts on her). When she stepped in, it was love at first sight. She nestled right in on her old fleece pad, curled up next to the stuffed doll and took a nap. Yah! Problem solved. If she likes it, I can put up with a big, yellow domed pineapple in my office. Now, I have to figure out what to do with her cute, old box.
