[ March 28th, 2002 at 2:49 pm ]

Molly is not allowed in my bedroom nor my computer room when I’m not home. This is for her safety and my sanity. She presumably would dislike electrocution; I dislike shredded clothing and broken blinds. Oddly, Molly displays little to no interest in exploring the computer room. Perhaps because it has been off-limits longer than the bedroom has been. Perhaps the very existence of the computer room has slipped her mind.

Now, I just recently decided to block off the bedroom during the day when I’m at work, and Molly is fighting my decision with all her might. And she has quite a store of might.

This morning I closed the door behind me as I went in the bedroom to floss and brush my teeth, just before leaving for work. I knew Molly was elsewhere. I figured that it was a smart thing to do. I cordoned off the bedroom in advance of leaving, since I was sure Molly was not around and therefore did not need to be chased and caught and deposited in the living room, meanwhile allowing my other cat Twinkie to take the opportunity to rush into the bedroom while she still could. You see, it can get complicated. In the mornings I am in no state to deal with complications. So I closed the bedroom door and went into the bathroom (its door opens off my bedroom) and took care of my teeth. I was flossed and happy. I was ready to leave the house. I opened the bedroom door and saw a streak of white headed toward me down the hallway at top speed. I’d like to know what the top speed of a kitten is, honestly, because before I had time to react she’d launched herself over my feet, between my calves, into the bedroom and under the bed. I have no idea what gave her the idea that she must get into the bedroom at all costs, but once there she had no desire to budge.

I chased her around the bed a few times, finally resorting to blocking her escape route with a wadded-up clump of laundry. Her face registered surprise and disappointment as the dirty clothes stopped her short. I grabbed her shoulders; she growled; I removed her from the room.