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MIButterfly

(815 posts)
Tue Jul 1, 2025, 12:48 AM Jul 1

My cat, Holly, never met a pen she didn't hate.

Before I retired, I was working from home and any pen I left on the desk, she would knock right onto the floor. Sometimes she would even try to knock it out of my hand when I was writing with it! When I sit on the couch doing a crossword puzzle, if I set the pen down beside me for any reason, she will knock it right onto the floor. She really gets mad if she sees a pen unattended. It would be different if she knocked it on the floor and then jumped down and played with it, but she doesn't. It seems like she wants every single pen out of her sight. Now!

I don't know what a pen ever did to her, but whatever it was, she's just not having it.

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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applegrove

(126,770 posts)
2. My 'Monster' the cat knocked two big display china water pitchers off ledges.
Tue Jul 1, 2025, 12:58 AM
Jul 1

When I found the first one in shambles on the floor I should have lowered the second one to somewhere safe but hey it was in the hall outside the bathroom so not somewhere he jumps up on. WRONG!

ReRe

(11,699 posts)
4. It's obvious to me that Holly hates pens because
Tue Jul 1, 2025, 01:48 AM
Jul 1

they steal your attention away from her. No?

MIButterfly

(815 posts)
5. Could be. I never even considered that.
Tue Jul 1, 2025, 02:40 AM
Jul 1

She does like immediate attention when she wants it. I can't tell you how many times she laid on the keyboard when I was trying to type.

You just might be on to something there. Thanks!

ReRe

(11,699 posts)
7. Assuming you have one cat
Tue Jul 1, 2025, 09:49 AM
Jul 1

the only thing I can think of that would take Holly's attention away from your pens is a new baby kitty cat. Meow.

MIButterfly

(815 posts)
8. I have two but they rarely interact.
Tue Jul 1, 2025, 10:59 AM
Jul 1

They lead entirely different lives. When they were younger, they would wrestle around for a couple of minutes a day but now they basically ignore each other. The other cat tried for years to get Holly to play with her but Holly wouldn't have it.

When I first adopted her, she was terrified of me. It literally took years for her to warm up to me.

ReRe

(11,699 posts)
10. OK. Then you are doomed.
Thu Jul 3, 2025, 02:30 AM
Jul 3
You might have to do a search for "cat psychology", if there is such a thing. Good luck!

MIButterfly

(815 posts)
11. I like the suggestions from the DUers that responded to my post.
Thu Jul 3, 2025, 02:40 AM
Jul 3

Tonight, while doing a crossword puzzle, I forgot what I was doing and set the pen down beside me for a minute. Holly smacked it so hard off the couch, it went flying in the air! It was actually pretty comical. She sure showed that pen what for!

3catwoman3

(27,134 posts)
9. Our 2 yr old blue point meezer, Fitz, never met a pencil he didn't love.
Tue Jul 1, 2025, 01:04 PM
Jul 1

He bats them across the tiles of the kitchen floor with great enthusiasm. If I've been using one and don't put it away when I' done, he will claim it.

He also loves Q-tips and knows just where to find them on my husband's workbench in his hobby room.

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