Seanan McGuire (seanan_mcguire) wrote,
Seanan McGuire
seanan_mcguire
  • Mood: blah
  • Music: Christian Kane, "Making Circles."

Things one forgets between kittens...

...the chewing.

I woke up this morning to find my iPod on the floor, still tethered to the computer. Okay, whatever. Things on the floor don't necessarily mean there's been feline intervention; last night I, personally, was responsible for my alarm clock, three pillows, a duvet, a stack of books, and three My Little Ponies hitting the floor. (Myopic author attempts to navigate to the bathroom in dark house without donning glasses, film at eleven.) So I didn't think much of it until I was walking to the bus stop, and discovered that I had no volume.

I smacked the iPod. I re-set my settings, which usually results in temporary deafness. I smacked the iPod again. And then, my sleep-addled brain finally reached the conclusion that maybe, just maybe, it would be a good idea to check the headphones. The just-bought-last-week headphones, which had no reason to be malfunctioning.

Well. No reason except for the part where they'd been chewed clean through in three different spots. Which is really a pretty good reason for them not to be transmitting sound, if you really think about it.

I muttered. I swore. I rode to San Francisco in silence, which was vexing, and proceeded straight into the nearest CVS, where twelve dollars united me with a brand-new pair of headphones that had not been eaten by a Maine Coon, and were thus happy to transmit sound if I wanted them to. I am now wrapped in the warm embrace of the new Christian Kane album, and thus less inclined to make mittens.

So let this be a reminder: Kittens chew on things. I always forget this in the long gaps between kittens, and then the kittens come into my life, and things get chewed all over again.

It's a damn good thing they're cute.
Tags: cats, cranky blonde is cranky, shopping, thomas
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  • 65 comments

Deleted comment

mariadkins

December 9 2010, 15:37:04 UTC 6 years ago

larp skillz come in handy!

seanan_mcguire

6 years ago

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mariadkins

December 9 2010, 15:36:40 UTC 6 years ago

they're cute so we won't kill them.

seanan_mcguire

December 9 2010, 16:48:43 UTC 6 years ago

Basically.

galdrin

December 9 2010, 15:37:21 UTC 6 years ago Edited:  December 9 2010, 15:37:30 UTC

I believe I see a Maine Coon-skin cap in your future if that keeps up.

seanan_mcguire

December 9 2010, 16:48:53 UTC 6 years ago

Lucky for him, he's REALLY cute.

galdrin

6 years ago

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aliciaaudrey

December 9 2010, 15:55:31 UTC 6 years ago

Beau chewed through wires a lot when he was a kitten. He ate many of my headphones too, alas. I was very concerned he would try to chew something that would zap him, but blessedly he never did.

seanan_mcguire

December 9 2010, 16:49:01 UTC 6 years ago

I share your concerns.

lizziecrowe

December 9 2010, 15:59:06 UTC 6 years ago

My 'kitten' is now nearly two years old and still insists on trying to chew off my silver earrings AND my silver necklace. He likes shinies. He also likes ears, toes, and fingertips to chew on. Still. DAMN good thing they're cute!

artemisgrey

December 9 2010, 16:12:35 UTC 6 years ago

My cat does the same thing! I still get wake-up calls that involve him sitting on my chest (he's 18lbs) trying to get hold of my necklace where it's fallen around the back of my neck. He tends to suck on my fingers more than chew. I wonder if he wasn't bottle fed or something.

seanan_mcguire

6 years ago

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qnofhrt

6 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

6 years ago

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textileowl

December 9 2010, 16:16:52 UTC 6 years ago

They don't always grow out of it. Oscar promptly chewed through my iPhone charging cord when I first got it and left it out over night. He also likes dragging sewing machine thread all over the place much to Jeff's dismay. At least he doesn't swallow it.

seanan_mcguire

December 9 2010, 16:49:30 UTC 6 years ago

Woe. :(

desperance

6 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

6 years ago

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desperance

6 years ago

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vettecat

December 9 2010, 16:17:45 UTC 6 years ago

Glad it was something easily replaceable, if annoying.

seanan_mcguire

December 9 2010, 16:49:36 UTC 6 years ago

Me, too.

semy_of_pearls

December 9 2010, 16:32:31 UTC 6 years ago

Children chew on things as well, which is why we have to keep the headphones and their cables away from Vincent.

seanan_mcguire

December 9 2010, 16:49:51 UTC 6 years ago

At least he's likely to grow out of it eventually.

semy_of_pearls

6 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

6 years ago

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kippurbird

December 9 2010, 17:02:18 UTC 6 years ago

Not only did Chaucer chew through things that I didn't think he would - kitten novice I was - he also developed a penchant for thievery. Which he still hasn't out grown. I occasionally find my roommate's things on my floor or things that were in my drawers in bed.

At least he plays nice with my his beanie babies.

seanan_mcguire

December 9 2010, 17:07:08 UTC 6 years ago

That's good. The bean-things are painful to step on.

kippurbird

6 years ago

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cmsieg

December 9 2010, 17:15:01 UTC 6 years ago

"It's a damn good thing they're cute."

Mine hear that on a daily basis!

seanan_mcguire

December 10 2010, 16:03:43 UTC 6 years ago

Believable!

dave_ifversen

December 9 2010, 17:45:29 UTC 6 years ago

Tally still likes to chew on extension cords. I try to keep them all covered so he can't get at them. So far, he hasn't managed to zap himself (not for lack of trying, however...).

seanan_mcguire

December 16 2010, 17:53:38 UTC 6 years ago

Eek.

groblek

6 years ago

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pyre006

December 9 2010, 18:15:23 UTC 6 years ago

haha. i'm going through that phase with shoe laces. i forgot how painful tying shoes can be.

seanan_mcguire

December 16 2010, 17:53:55 UTC 6 years ago

"OMG IT'S MOVING OMG LET ME KILL IT OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!!!!"

phoenixsansfyr

December 9 2010, 18:20:12 UTC 6 years ago

My (1yo) Siamese has decided that my engagement ring is her favorite thing to chew on when she's cuddled up in my lap. At least the Maines mostly avoid chewing on things. Well, the 3yo one likes to eat the big standing blinds in the living room (the vertical ones against a sliding glass door? Yeah, those), and occasionally she'll attempt to eat the antique table.

seanan_mcguire

December 16 2010, 17:54:26 UTC 6 years ago

Lilly keeps trying to eat the shower curtain. I've given up arguing with her. I think the way her teeth pop the plastic is a stress-release, like bubble wrap.

slothman

December 9 2010, 18:22:33 UTC 6 years ago

Cleo liked the bitter apple spray that we used to try to discourage chewing.

seanan_mcguire

December 16 2010, 17:54:32 UTC 6 years ago

...oh, that sucks.

la_marquise_de_

December 9 2010, 18:51:07 UTC 6 years ago

Mooncat loved to chew books at that age. We still have various volumes with her teeth marks on them.

seanan_mcguire

December 16 2010, 17:54:44 UTC 6 years ago

Yeah, Alice ate the covers off a few books.

stevemb

December 9 2010, 19:03:04 UTC 6 years ago Edited:  December 9 2010, 19:03:45 UTC

Could be worse; Dorothy (in icon) has been unclear on the concept "not litter box" = "not place to pee". It seems to have been part infection (treated -- after the first course of pills, thank Ghu the second course could be crumbled into dry food) and part stress at being confined indoors with three other cats (though they, especially the crotchety elderly one, often had reason to think it wasn't Dorothy locked up in here with them, but rather them locked up in here with Dorothy).

seanan_mcguire

December 21 2010, 15:24:47 UTC 6 years ago

...guh.

martianmooncrab

December 9 2010, 19:04:00 UTC 6 years ago

I have fond memories of a friends Siamese chewing through the xmas tree lights cord, and when we moved the tree to see if the cat was still alive (just stunned), we found out where he had been hiding his poo.

seanan_mcguire

December 20 2010, 21:05:44 UTC 6 years ago

...wow.

That's a special Christmas story.

ladymondegreen

December 9 2010, 21:57:54 UTC 6 years ago

Do they make teething rings for cats?

seanan_mcguire

December 20 2010, 21:04:47 UTC 6 years ago

Yes.

They're called "owners."

yellowblackhaze

December 9 2010, 22:01:08 UTC 6 years ago

Puppies do it too. I lost count of how many sets of earplugs my parents dog chewed through when she was little. It will happen if you let the dog sleep in the same room as you. You could try a set of head phones that live in their own little plastic circle thingy. I love your pic kippurbird, the adipose are sooo cute.

seanan_mcguire

December 21 2010, 15:25:08 UTC 6 years ago

I just keep them in my coat pocket now, for safety.

hoppytoad79

December 9 2010, 22:40:08 UTC 6 years ago

AUGH! The chewing! The ruining of things with cords! I totally feel your pain in the form of ruined computer speakers and several ruined pairs of headphones. Yes, it is a very good thing they're cute.

seanan_mcguire

December 21 2010, 15:25:19 UTC 6 years ago

Otherwise? MITTENS.

hoppytoad79

6 years ago

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groblek

December 10 2010, 02:56:38 UTC 6 years ago

I understand - one of our cats-in-residence still chews cords when stressed. It's fortunate for her that I'm handy with a soldering iron.

seanan_mcguire

December 21 2010, 15:25:28 UTC 6 years ago

I may have to invite you over.

groblek

6 years ago

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kitrinlu

December 10 2010, 04:58:16 UTC 6 years ago

All baby things are cute. It's a survival trait XD

seanan_mcguire

December 21 2010, 15:25:39 UTC 6 years ago

For obvious reasons!

jadis17

December 10 2010, 05:13:32 UTC 6 years ago

I only had one cat that really liked to chew. I solved it by shoving milk bone dog biscuits in his mouth when ever I caught him chewing on other things. it worked, but he insisted I hold the dog biscuits while he chewed.

I thought it a fair trade so I didn't have to worry about the fate of the electrical cords.

seanan_mcguire

December 21 2010, 15:25:53 UTC 6 years ago

I wonder if I can get Thomas hooked on dog biscuits.

l_l_u_w_d

December 11 2010, 01:38:14 UTC 6 years ago

I have no cute animal chewing stories, but yay for Christian Kane music! I am so going to try and go to his concert when he is in town. I don't think I'll be able to make it, but he'll be in my area coming soon, and it would be so nice if I could get there. He's so hot, and who knew he could sing, too! And Country, too? Yay!

seanan_mcguire

December 21 2010, 15:26:07 UTC 6 years ago

I know, right?! The man's a genius.

cowansfaith

December 11 2010, 02:38:24 UTC 6 years ago

Moon Princess Serena has eaten about dozen headphones in her two years of life. It must be a Maine Coon thing. I've never had a cat do this before. She chews other things, but not as often or as viciously.

seanan_mcguire

December 21 2010, 15:26:23 UTC 6 years ago

Alice doesn't chew at all, Thomas seems to think he's a termite.