Cats, kids, and chaos

Last night was one of the longest nights I've had in awhile. I wanted sleep, I needed sleep, I craved a kind of "Rip Van-Winkle" sleep (minus the beard of course). But alas, it was not to be.

A few days ago we adopted two cats. We figured after a small transition period that those cats would make this their home. I regret that thought now.

These cats went from hiding all day in their laundry room sanctutary, to complete furr-balls of fury at night. The kids and dogs are out and about during the day, and I can't blame the cats completely for avoiding them as much as possible, but they have to learn to co-exist right? Again, I regret encouraging this. Apparently at some point yesterday the cats and kids made a deal... we'll play at night. Around 2:30am I was awoke by my daughter and her need to "potty". All seemed ok at the time but shortly after sending her back into bed with another "goodnight, love you", the chaos started.

I returned to bed only to be aroused, rudely, by the dogs in a fervor because of the noises in the hall. One look and I knew the kids were still up, my son always turns the lights on. And they were. They had let the cats (who apparently need all their petting and attention done at night) into their room and were playing games with them, giggling all the way.

I broke up that party real quick! Put the kids back into bed, the cats back in their "sanctuary" and headed back to bed myself.

Around 3:30am I hear the sons voice, and being the middle of the night, I assume he had a bad dream. Come on mom, you should've known better than that! The kids were awake again, and both cats were in their room. The voice I heard was a poorly stiffled giggle.

Another eviction, another threat of the kids' lives if they didn't let mommy and daddy sleep. (c'mon, we've all been there)

The kids finally heed the warnings and fall back asleep. The cats, now without playmates, head downstairs to continue their fun.

This time the sound that wakes me is breaking glass. Not cool. I head downstairs to find one of the cats sitting where a glass had once been, totally unapologetic of her actions. Grrrr.... Continuing my investigation of what they'd been up to while downstairs, I find that brother cat has decided it too much work to go back to the litter box and instead dropped his "deuce" in our hallway. Again, Grrr....

By this time I'm tired, angry, hostile, and very very close to letting the dogs have their wish of accosting the kitties. Again I place the cats in their "sanctuary", but this time I lock them in. Cry all you want you little furr-balls, I care not, I am off to sleep.

I won't tell you what a mess they made in my laundry room as retaliation. Let's just say they may be finding a new home shortly.

*sigh* all I wanted was nice full night of sleep.