Who Unrolled the Entire Roll? The Black Cat Knows Nothing.
A long sheet of brown wrapping paper stretches across the living room floor, crinkled and torn into dramatic waves, and in the very middle of it sits Onyx the black cat. Her green eyes glow in the lamplight and she looks up as if she has just been asked a very rude question. A paper roll lies at her side, laundry baskets and cushions fill the background, and scraps crunch all around her. She has clearly rolled, pounced on and thoroughly inspected every inch of the paper.
Wrapping paper is nearly irresistible to cats. It crinkles, it rustles, it slides and it makes an excellent hiding place, which is enough to turn any quiet evening into a game. Crinkly textures can also trigger a cat's hunting instincts, since the sound resembles small animals moving through leaves. Black cats, for the record, are just as affectionate and playful as any other color, and their glossy coats show off a good brushing. When wrapping gifts, it helps to keep ribbon, tape and string out of reach, because cats can be tempted to chew them, and swallowed string or ribbon can cause serious problems. Talk to your vet right away if you think your cat has eaten any. A plain paper bag or a crinkle toy gives a cat the same fun without the risk.
Onyx will probably supervise the rest of the gift wrapping from the middle of the paper, and nobody will have the heart to move her.
