Milton’s Bad Habit – Pebbles the Blind Cat Stages an Intervention

It has recently come to my attention that little brofur Milton is engaging in some potentially self-destructive behaviors. It is no secret that he is a serious food fanatic. However, it has lately spiraled into the realm of dangerous desperation. 

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Milton gets Himself Into Trouble

Let me explain. You see, we have this large trash can in the kitchen. It is a heavy-duty plastic thing made for outdoor use. Mom got it years ago to stop the canine-in-the-garbage problem she was having. And it worked beautifully. That is, up until about a month ago.

There was Mom, going about her day doing weird human stuff when she opened up the garbage can lid. This was the surprise she got.

Of course, she always overreacts to everything. So she immediately went into panic mode, imagining all the ways Milton could eat something toxic, get an obstruction, or suffocate inside the trash can. (Geez, calm down, Mom).

In a desperate attempt to prevent his certain demise via trash can, she employed multiple ways to try and outsmart him. But, like any time the humans try to outsmart the keen feline brain, it was a complete failure. She made sure the lid was locked. She even turned it around backward under the counter (much to Dad’s annoyance), so that he couldn’t get the lid open. The worst was when she made sure to cover the garbage in horrific-smelling grapefruit peelings to throw him off the scent. (I mean, seriously, who eats that?!)

But clearly, the pawrents have underestimated the lengths to which a hungry kitty will go for a little snack.

The Intervention

Now, this brings me to an important observation. Although I agree that Mom is (way) too paranoid about our certain death around every corner, she does have a point. A closed trash bin is clearly no place for my little brofur to hang out. He may be a wild little crazy-pants sometimes. But I do love him. Nothing the pawrents were doing seemed to be helping the problem. So it seemed to me that it was time for wise sisfur, Pebbles, to intervene.

So with gentle purrs, I called him into the cat room for a little chat. Of course, these sensitive matters must be handled delicately. After all, little brofur Milton does tend to be a scardey cat who is very easily spooked.

A Conversation Between Pebbles and Milton

Pebbles: Listen, Milt. I don’t want you to feel cornered and start hissing and spitting or anything. But it is time that we have an intervention for you.

Milton: Okay. That sounds like fun! What’s inderbenchin?

Pebbles: No, intervention. It’s when someone who cares about you steps up to help you overcome a serious problem in your life.

Milton: Problem? I don’t have any prob… Wait. Is this about all the cat springs I hide under the couch, the stove, and the refrigerator? Because I’m not the only guilty feline, you know!

Pebbles: Oh, don’t be silly. Those are perfectly reasonable locations to store all your extra toys. No. I’m talking about your new habit of getting in the trash can.

Milton: What! But I don’t get in the trash can! I would never do that, Pebbles.

Pebbles: (sigh) Milt. Really? I have heard you do it on multiple occasions. And Mom caught you. She even took pictures. Remember?

Milton: It wasn’t me. (silence) Okay. So what if it was me. Don’t you understand all the wonderful things in there? There are treatsie bags, empty cans of all sorts of yummy surprises, and sometimes even gravy from cans of cat food! You can’t tell me you aren’t tempted, too, Pebbles!

Pebbles: Oh, my dear little brofur. I am six months older than you and, therefore, so much wiser. When you get to be my age, you will understand. There are many things in this world that may tempt us. Unfortunately, some of those temptations may not be good for us. And we must stay away from those things.

Milton: You mean Temptations are not good for us?! You can’t be serious.

Pebbles: Don’t even say that, Milt! Of course, the treats are good for us (I don’t care what Mom says)! I mean temptations. Like, things that we are desperately drawn to, despite the fact that they may cause us harm.

Milton: I think I understand what you’re saying. I don’t like it, but I get it. You are telling me that no matter what wonderful things the pawrents put in the big trash bin, I should stay out. I should just ignore the wonderful smells tormenting me from in there. Because I may get hurt. Is that it?

Pebbles: Exactly.

Milton: Well, I mean, I haven’t quite figured out how to get back out once I’m in there. And it can be a little scary, I suppose.

Pebbles: Sweet little brofur, please understand that I am speaking to you out of love. If something happened to you, who would help me throw my wild pawties? And who would I play fight with? Besides, if you die, there will be no living with Mom afterward, that’s for sure.

Milton: Okay, okay, Pebbles. I get it. I will try to stay out of the garbage can. But if I get the faintest whiff of salmon flavored canned cat food, I can’t be held responsible for my actions.

Pebbles: Well, I suppose that’s at least a start. Now give me a big paw hug, and let’s go tell Mom it’s hungry kitty time!

Conclusion

In the coming weeks, we’ll find out if the intervention has made any difference at all. As for now, I’m not so hopeful…

My dear friends, if you know someone in trouble, don’t ever lose hope. After all, don’t we all have some habit that we can’t let go of? So keep your heads up, keep trying. And until next time… keeping Pebbles Strong!