But its along the lines of “Becareful what you wish for….”

_{ok,,,,,this requires some explanation…}

There’s a photo of lovely pud James (aka “Sunny Jim”). Sunny Jim is an incredibly sweet, trusting, handsome, atheletic, yet incredibly dense kitty. He means well. He really really does. Unfortunately, his brother Gusty apparently hogged all the brain cells in utero, in lieu athletism and looks. James would make a great mouser if he was a barn kitty: he has powerful reflexes, energy to burn, is very restless and Easily bored. When his brother is 99% content of the time, eating, sleeping, playing, cuddling….James HAS TO be getting into something. He’s been twice as difficult to train as Gusty, mainly because he’s got the attention span of a gnat.

So when i noticed he had a perchant for picking up the little mouse toys i bought him, and enjoying chasing them, i decided it would be a short step to teach him to “fetch”: i.e.. I ‘d throw a mouse, he’d chase after it & return it to where i was sitting, he’d get the entertainment he wanted, i could get work done at the computer & play with him at the same time…

It took weeks. He was more difficult to teach than any animal i’d ever worked with (& i’ve trained a few animals in my day). When i thought he’d caught on, the next day he’d completely forgotten everything we worked on. Finally, after much praise, coaxing, reward and encouragement, he learned the routine… “At Last!” I thought…..

....and then he’d forget once again. He’d go after the tossed item, pick it up, then drop it once i called him over. I continued working with him, tho, and finally finally Finally! he learned.

Now the problem is, he wont leave me alone… He bugs me ALL the time to play. I cant sit down at the computer without him bringing me a toy to toss & fetch. He’s so happy doing, i really hate refusing his sweet innocent face. But then i rarely get anything done on the computer (like writing 43T entries) [he’s sleeping at the moment -Whew!]
;D

The photo is one of the few i caught of him returning with his “prey” (usually when i pick up the camera, he’s instantly distracted & drops whatever). Tho his Real favorite is a frayed red mouse…i know he’s really serious about wanting to play when he brings That One to my feet…..

:D