Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Sun Sun Sun, Here It Comes


Vinny is most decidedly an indoor cat.

When you live on the corner of Walk and Don't Walk, as we do, where two major bus lines run past every 20 minutes, outdoor cat life becomes, if you're a responsible cat parent, a no-no in the lifestyle department. Sorry, Kid. You're stuck here.

As a consequence, Vinny doesn't get much sun.

OK, fine. Vinny gets no sun - we live in a north-facing basement, ya'll - save those two occasions per year when I'm feeling particularly magnanimous and energetic enough to wriggle his squirmy, squiggly body into his cat harness and leash so that I can take him out for a walk. Yes, I'm one of THOSE cat ladies and let me tell you, Vinny ROCKS the harness and leash...once he's in it and resolves himself to it. Then he's master of the universe and confidently struts his stuff about our neighborhood, dragging me behind.

[Note: Now I'm worried that he is vitamin D deficient. Am I a terrible mother for not getting my fur-child out into the sunlight 20 minutes a day to absorb vitamin D?! Do cats even require vitamin D? Should I buy him supplements? This parenting thing is So. Hard!]

Anyway!

So, a few weeks ago, when I was experiencing symptoms of eye strain, Acr0nym gave me a desk lamp to, hopefully, alleviate the dizzy spells.

Up until then, I'd only had one three-way lamp in my room - a floor lamp located on the other side of the room from my desk and computer.

As soon as I plugged in the new lamp on my desk though, I noticed a certain fur fixture planting himself underneath the desk lamp and staring at me...accusingly...

You've seen this Vinny, Private Eye picture before

So, I did what any good mother would do with a depressed child...

I bought him a SAD lamp. And by SAD lamp I mean I went to Target and spent 15 clams on a table lamp and a 4-pack of 60-watt bulbs.

The result?

Vinny stretching out and basking under the SAD lamp
He's barely left its sunny glow.

Turns out, he doesn't care about the actual sun, he just cares about staying toasty warm.

High Five.

Now...if only I didn't feel so guilty about turning the lamp off when I was ready to sleep, perhaps I COULD sleep. *sigh*

13 comments:

TangledLou said...

You're such a good Mama Cat. My chicken used to lay about on the answering machine because it was warm. Sometimes he would play my messages for me with his butt.

NGS said...

I would like to give that cat a good scratching!! Yay kitty!!

Gaelyn said...

How about a heating pad?

Teresa said...

I had bought Gus a heated cat bed.....

spux said...

You could spoil him rotten and get him a full spectrum lamp. I have no idea if that works though. Cats are nocturnal anyway and Vinny seems plenty happy

cdnkaro said...

Haha, this made me smile. Our cats all fight for the few coveted window sills that are both out of the dog's reach and warmed by the sun. Mine must be more outgoing though, because when it's cold in our house (read: November-April-damn drafty 130+ year old house), they just crawl into our beds, between the blankets, to stay warm.

Unknown said...

We want to see photos of Vinny walking on his leash!
Cats do find the warmest place or the piece of clean laundry...

Lucy said...

That is too cute! He looks pretty content under his lamp!

Laine Griffin said...

Awesome mommy! And I agree with Melanie - cat harness and leash pics please!!!

Masked Mom said...

I've never harnessed a cat, but we had harnesses and leashes for our ferrets. As with Vinnie, it was a special occasion only kind of thing. And they were really more a way for them to safely explore the backyard or whatever than actually take a walk, since they are such curious animals that directing them is nearly impossible--and maybe even a little cruel. Sachi, the Ferret Princess, our first, always greatly preferred to hide inside my shirt with just her nose peeking out when I walked downtown.

Jenn and Casey said...

Haha!!! Hope he loves his lamp. I used to try and harness my cats but they would have none of it and it ended up in injuries (to me of course)!

Just Jane said...

I promise! When the weather gets nicer, I'll procure pictures of Vinny in his leash and harness. It's hard to manage the cat, the leash, and a camera while being dragged down the street by an extremely determined 9-pound beast. It is a sight to behold however.

Bᴜɴɴʏ ☥ said...

If you buy the "indoor cat" food, it has extra vitamins for our kittehs that don't get out much....