Friday, January 29, 2016

Less Efficiency, More Fun

One of the keys to living in an apartment, especially if one used to live in a larger house, is to make the most efficient use of one’s space. I have rationalised my storage of those things I wanted to keep but don’t often use. Closets are packed high and shelves are filled. I have just purchased a small rack of several hooks to hang on the bedroom door so that clothes into which I will be changing may be hung there instead of on the back of a chair.


But sometimes efficiency must be sacrificed to enjoyment. And yes, that refers to my efficiency and the cats’ enjoyment. The nylon tunnel has returned. Well, a new one has been brought out. When I bought the previous red-and-grey nylon tunnel, it was a good price and, unsure whether I would find another, I purchased a spare. Moving to the apartment was a good time to exchange them. The red-and-grey nylon tunnel was becoming rather ratty (catty?) with hundreds of punctures and dozens of tears. So after a couple of weeks of becoming accustomed to the new home, the cats received their new, blue-and-yellow nylon tunnel.


As I expected, it has proved popular. Tucker likes to lie in the tunnel while battling my hands. Renn enjoys rushing through the tunnel and Josie’s favourite activity in it is, well, not an activity; she just lies there. But I think she has fun doing that. Cammie was never a tunnel-cat, though she has used it to sneak up on the others. She may yet again.



The fact is that the nylon tunnel gives the beasts another toy with which to play, and another space in which to lie. Yes, it takes up room, and I am continually stepping over it, but it is light and cheap; it requires no maintenance, and it is harmless. So I suppose it has its own efficiency.


As for the old nylon tunnel, it has, I believe, gone on to provide fun for other felines. In our town, we have ‘big item pick-up’, by which a call to the municipal Waste Management Department (garbage men) may arrange the disposal of large articles that don’t fit or are not allowed in regular trash collections. In preparation for this, I set several items, including the red-and-grey nylon tunnel, behind my house before I moved. But before I could even call for them to be picked up, they disappeared. Among them was the old nylon tunnel. As well, the first cat-tree I possessed vanished. It was Tungsten’s; a simple scratching post with a platform on top. It was becoming very ragged and, with an aging population of pets, I thought a cat-tree without steps was less desirable than others.


This sort of informal recycling goes on a great deal here. I don’t know if it is the case in other towns, but anything placed in the alleys is fair game, and everyone is glad to have it provide some extra use. I like to think that other cats, who may not otherwise have had a nylon tunnel or a cat-tree, are now using my old ones; there is still plenty of wear left in them.


And so my four beasts find themselves in the completed home, with nothing more to be provided. Then again, I find myself wondering what else I can add. Efficiently, of course.

15 comments:

  1. that's a nice tunnel....our foster kittens love ours

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  2. I never thought to try a tunnel when our cats were alive. Did yours take to it right away? Everyone really seems to enjoy it.
    Your last photo of all four cats is wonderful.
    Have a great weekend!

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  3. I love the photo right above the paragraph that starts "This sort of informal recycling"

    I have a similar tunnel in my kitten room, and it is often in the way when I am trying to do anything in there, but the kittens love it, so it stays.

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  4. Etsy have a great range of cat shelves that you can put up on the wall although the landlord will have to ok it. They also have some good hammocks that attach to the windows giving the cats somewhere to sleep and look out. We don't have any windows that would suit, but when we next move we will get one.

    It is nice to see that you are all settling in so well. The cats seemed to have handled the move and changes so well. Not like mine, who howled for two weeks and stayed under the bed.

    Have a good weekend.

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  5. guys...yur new tunnell iz rockin awesum !!! N joy it...we noe ewe will.....N just sayin...if yur dad ree movez de lamp; radio, & bookz frum de book case...that shuld give him sum room ta add mor... cat related... object de art !!

    heerz two a bicolor goat fish kinda week oh end ♥♥♥

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  6. The new tunnel is great. How long will it last? Nicki is very hard on things like that, unless they're quite sturdily made. Actually, I did or do have a similar red tunnel, I must have a look around. I've given a couple of tunnels away -- just too many tunnels! :-)

    As for easy cat items...I recently joined Pinterest and came across some really neat "hacks" for pet beds and toys, etc. One I really liked was a round wicker basket (large) that was somehow screwed to the wall at the bottom, above the ground, with a towel in it for a bed. So a wicker "hide-away/bed" made from this large basket. Neat idea, but of course in apartments you can't go drilling things into the walls. Or, at least if you do, you have to make sure you're patching before you leave!

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    1. The old tunnel was at least six years old and still structurally sound. It looked a bit ragged but was still good for another five or six years, I am sure.

      What I'd love to get is something like Random Felines has (http://www.random-felines.com/2015/02/not-really-wordless-wednesday.html) but I haven't found anything like it. I'd put a platfom on every level, now that my bunch are getting up there (chronologically, not altitudinally).

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  7. They look so very content and I dare say they LOVE their new tunnel.

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  8. Wonderful photo with Josie! (#1) . The cats seem very pleased with their new tunnel and new home. I am so happy for all of you.

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    1. Seeing them use the tunnel each day, I'd quite forgotten how much a part of things the old one was. Yes, we are doing very well here. I hope all are the same there.

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  9. Those of us with cats know cat furniture and items for the feline's enjoyment take priority over furniture for humans. To make room for cat tree near the front window? Then the chair must go. Unless the chair is enjoyed by the cats.

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    1. Yes, when the human furniture is used also by cats, it can stay.

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  10. That is a lovely tunnel for everyone to enjoy.

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  11. I have the same tunnel here for the cats but it stays in the sunroom. Saku is the only one who has ever really used it...occasionally to bat at his fursibs on their way by.

    Love the photo with all four cats in it. They've definitely settled in.

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  12. I too love seeing your beasties all in one photo. Hugs to them, bless their dear hearts, oh and we have informal swap outs here as well. If it's useful it disappears. I always would like to think about another kitty's happiness and you supplied that to some kitty with the old tree and tunnel.

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