The Paper Towel Roll Was Full an Hour Ago. She Has Questions for Us.
The paper towel roll made it about six feet before it ran out of floor, and the white cat sitting at the end of the trail has decided to look as though none of this has anything to do with her. Her head is tilted up, one eye a pale blue and the other closer to green, and her pink nose is pointed straight at whoever just walked in. Crumpled sheets are strewn across the wood boards, the empty cardboard tube is lying on its side, and a pair of slippers waits in the background.
Unrolling a paper towel roll is a classic cat pastime for a good reason. The roll spins easily, the paper moves when a paw hits it, and the whole thing makes a satisfying rustling sound. For a cat, that is a toy that practically plays itself. Cats are hunters by instinct, so anything that flutters, rolls, or trails behind them is fair game. Keeping a few safe toys around, such as crinkle balls, cardboard tubes, and wand toys with a person on the other end, gives that energy somewhere better to go. Cats may also nibble paper, and swallowing a lot of it is not good for them, so if yours seems to be eating it, talk to your vet.
As for the cat here, the innocent stare is doing a lot of work. She might be hoping nobody notices the tube, or she might be waiting for a second roll to appear. Either way, the floor will need sweeping and the cat will need no apology.
