Failed Flight

The kits were born on September 6th. This means they’re 12 weeks old today. They’re as frisky as ever, but with their slightly larger size, their speed has increased and their ability to wreak havoc has taken an exponential jump. Where they were going down the stairs one step at a time, they now race from top to bottom in a blur of brown-tipped fur. Where they once just gazed at far-off places — the top of the desk, the surface of the antique buffet — they’re now launching themselves onto these things with ease.

I’m quite sure Winston would prefer I not reveal his most recent attempts at scaling the heights, but it’s a "growth milestone" so I shall. :) Win spied a previously unexplored piece of furniture and, with his typical fearlessness, decided to inject himself into the stratospheric heights of the tall dresser (called, with typical French charm, a "semanier"). Winston stalked back and forth on the edge of the bed, judging the angle of trajectory and the potential landing spot. Then, despite my "Winston, I don’t think you want to..." he crouched, he wiggled, and he was off!

However, the top of the dresser was farther away than he had judged. And at the summit, unbeknownst to Winston, was not a smooth wood surface but a small attache case resting on the wood surface. The kitten's head barely crested the edge of the dresser; I saw the startled expression and the ears going back as he realized he'd missed his touchdown spot. However, he did manage to snag a paw onto the case handle itself and for just a split second, I think he believed he’d be ok, swinging himself up from below, Tarzan style. However, the case — in slow motion — slid towards the edge of the dresser with Winston still attached. Before I could make it across the room, both kitten and case had plummeted to the floor.

I tried to scoop up the little guy and check for any injury. He was perfectly fine, however, and was having none of my attentions. Clutching at the shreds of his catly dignity, Winston crawled out from under the case and stalked away, turning to look at me over his shoulder as if to say, "Next week — despite whatever obstacles you place in my path — I shall reach The Summit!"

Kitty Tip: All the best decorators know that having a pile of pillows under every piece of tall furniture in the house is "all the thing" in today's interior landscapes. ;)

Winston after his "expedition." 11 weeks old.