Not Once, but Twice

Cammie used her new stairs yesterday evening, not once but twice.

The first time, she was on the bed and wanted to get down. She kept leaning far over the edge, holding on to the bedspread with three feet, while trying to find the floor with the fourth. Of course, the floor was far out of her reach. She was deciding whether simply to drop, and clearly disliked the idea. I started tapping the first level of the big staircase with the palm of my hand, while saying, “Cammie, step…step, Cammie, step…” It took several minutes of indecision on her part, but the princess eventually followed the sound of my hand and placed a paw cautiously on the top step. I patted each lower step in succession, and she descended almost gracefully to the floor.

The second time, later that night, Cammie was on the bed and it was obvious that she wanted down. It appeared to me that she was searching for the stairs she had used earlier. I repeated the process of patting the steps and talking to her. She came over after only about fifteen seconds of meandering, and walked down the steps in half the previous time.

Knowing cats, I realise it may be a few days - or a year - before she determines to use the stairs again. But she knows they are there, and will, I am sure, start to use them on her own. It will make getting her to use the smaller set easier, too. Once that’s accomplished, she will learn to differentiate between the two, and know how to use each of them. Even now, however, I hope my princess’s life has just become a little less stressful.