A Tabby Sat Very Still in the Bathroom. The Toilet Paper Had Moved On.
The bathroom looks like a tiny parade just passed through. Long ribbons of toilet paper hang from the roll, loop across the lid, and pile up in soft drifts around a gray tabby cat. She sits in the middle of it all with her head turned politely to the side, as if the mess belongs to someone else entirely. A toothbrush stands upright on the sink, a towel hangs neatly on the wall, and only the cat and her paper snowfall are out of place.
Unrolling toilet paper is a classic cat pastime because the roll spins so satisfyingly and the paper flutters like prey when it moves. Cats are natural hunters, and pulling, batting, and shredding all scratch an instinctive itch. Instead of scolding, it helps to give that energy a better outlet, like a wand toy, a crinkly ball, or a cardboard tube to roll around. Some people keep the bathroom door closed, or fit a cover over the roll so it is harder to swing. A few shreds of paper are harmless to most cats, but if she swallows a lot of it, talk to your vet.
She is looking away to keep the peace, and perhaps to plan her next move. Her whiskers are twitching just a little, which suggests she is already eyeing the spare rolls under the sink. The cleanup will take a while, but honestly, the view from her little paper cloud looks very cozy.
