Notes: A Week in the Life of Nanuq

Thursday 2/23, 8:00 am. I leave for trip to Denver. Nanuq asleep in ball on bed. Has not eaten or pooped since arrived at home; shows no interest in toys. Give him disgusting medication and say my prayers. Hoping I'll return to see some life in the little guy.

Thursday 2/23, 10:00 am. Cat sitter Alexis from PhilaPets visits. She writes: Nanuq is a good name. He was very cute sleeping when I came in. I checked the litter box, but there wasn't anything in it yet.

Thursday 2/23, 2:00 pm. Erika visits. She writes: Nanuq was inquisitive. Seemed interested in food but wouldn't eat. He's a sweetie.

Friday 2/24, 11:00 am. Alexis: Nanuq finally ate some food that I put out--wet only. I sifted through the litter box, but since he hasn't eaten much, there wasn't anything in it.

Friday 2/24, 1:15 pm. Erika: 2nd wet food was gone and drape was down with Nanuq asleep on it--little fiend. Played with mouse when woke up. Loves tummy rubs. Ate some dry food.

Saturday 2/25, 2:00 pm. Erika and Nick: We cleaned litter of poo. All dry and wet food gone. Curtains were down. Divider was down. Amplifiers were down. Put back some stuff. Since feeling better, getting rambunctious, he is.

Saturday 2/25, 3:00 pm. Alexis: I came in as Erika and Nick were leaving. I put some more food out, since he's obviously hungry. I will be back tomorrow and hopefully your belongings will not be knocked over.

Sunday 2/26, 2:30 pm. Alexis: Nanuq was sleeping when I arrived but awoke with an appetite. All of his food bowls and water bowl were empty. He is being very vocal and affectionate. He did unfortunately knock over his litter box. Otherwise the apartment looked in order.

Sunday 2/26, 11:15 pm. I ask Amy to go into the apartment with me because I'm afraid I'll find a dead cat. Walk in and can't figure out what's different. Suddenly realize no curtains on windows. Amy looks at food bowl and says, "Look! He ate!" Stare in stunned silence as I take in full view of apartment. "I can't believe this is the same cat I met on Thursday!" Amy says.

Monday 2/27. Spend day at home recuperating. Nanuq and I play with catnip mice and feather toy. Leave apartment to pick up mail. Hear him meowing all the way down the alleyway. Efforts to eat cereal without cat in face unsuccessful. Vacuum, dust and put pictures back in place. Yell "no" all 50 times Nanuq jumps on kitchen table. Attempt to teach him value of scratching post over apartment walls.

Tuesday 2/28, 7:30 am. Back to work. Give Nanuq medicine. Kiss Lancelot's ashes and give Nanuq kiss goodbye. Feel deep pangs of guilt as I walk down alleyway and hear cat wailing pathetically. Reconsider idea of having children.

Tuesday 2/28, 6:30 pm. Open apartment door and immediately see curtains down, amplifiers down. Find two broken cereal bowls and a damaged wooden figurine from Thailand that belonged to my grandparents. Lancelot's picture and collar on floor. Room divider knocked over and scratched to bits. Nanuq sitting calmly in window. Imagine Lancelot looking down on me and thinking, "And you thought I was bad!"

Tuesday 2/28, 6:45 pm. Call Amy to tell her what happened. Before she says hello, she hears me whispering to Nanuq, "Come here, you devil cat."

Tuesday 2/28, 7:30 pm. Move all breakables into boxes or single display case with glass. Replace with stuffed animals. Remind self am not so superficial that I am tied to objects. Above all that. Love living things. Rub Nanuq's tummy and play with catnip mouse. Replace curtain.

Tuesday 2/28, 8:00 pm. Hear loud smash. Decide pictures were made for walls, not shelving. Spend next hour with hammer and nail.

Tuesday 2/28, 1:30 am. Hear crash. Nanuq knocked over end table with keys on it. Go back to bed.

Tuesday 2/28, 5:00 am. Hear dishes falling. Nanuq attempting to drink water from kitchen sink. Yell no, pick him up and go back to bed.

Wednesday 3/1, 7:30 am. Give Nanuq medicine and kiss goodbye. Open front curtain in hopes he'll look out window instead of taking curtain down. Notice light out in refrigerator; make mental note to get new bulb. Say prayer.

Wednesday 3/1, 6:30 pm. Enter apartment to see curtain in place. Success! Then notice back curtain pulled down and Lancelot's collar thrown upon it. Cable box down. Newspapers strewn everywhere. Take deep breath and leave apartment to get more cat toys and bulb for fridge.

Wednesday 3/1, 7:00 pm. Buy dreaded water bottle. Am evil disciplinarian spoiling cat's fun.

Wednesday 3/1, 7:30 pm. Replace light bulb in fridge, but nothing happens. Have funny feeling. Pull fridge away from wall. Discover Nanuq knocked over cutting board on top of fridge, forcing cord out of wall. Plug in fridge and throw out spoiled food. Find dried lavender shred to bits. Never liked dried flowers anyway.

Wednesday 3/1, 9:30 pm. Spray cat several times as he attempts to scratch wall, room divider, rug.

Wednesday 3/1 10:00 pm. Nanuq scratches post for first time. Praise him like king.

Wednesday 3/1 11:30 pm. Cold night, get in bed. Nanuq crawls in after me. Climbs on stomach and curls into ball. Rolls on back for tummy rub. Purrs. All is forgiven.