Ruby Penelope, on the other hand, is a gigantic pain in my backside. I just can't get rid of her because Caitlin loves her to pieces. It has taken a mountain of self control not to pluck that oversized mouse from her cage and let her go in the field beside the house.
The main thing is that I remember exactly what it was like to be an animal lover when I was Caitlin's age. Just like I used to do with my pets, Caitlin talks to Ruby P. constantly, gives her treats, plays with her when she's in the roll around ball, and proudly shows her off to any friend or family member that comes over.
I think Ruby P. just has issues with ME. In fact, from the day we brought her home, she has had something against me. It has been roughly 4 months now since she has lived here, and I have grumbled about her every day. First, it was the fact that she wouldn't come down out of the observatory in her cage. She ate, slept, and pooped up there, and I couldn't stand to clean it out on a daily basis. That's the 1st time she bit me. All I was doing was trying to create a more sanitary and comfortable home for her--sheesh, where is the love for the momma?!?
You would think that after all of the time it has taken me to clean the cage, feed/water her, and make her more comfortable, she'd be just a tad bit grateful. But nooooooooooooooooooooo.......
For the past month or so, Ruby P. has figured out how to push my buttons. Her cage has a ball on the top of it that she can run in--sort of like a wheel--and the ONLY time she wants to run it is around 1am. Not good. So, thinking I was smarter than her, I stuffed a wash cloth up under the ball so it couldn't roll during the night. That way she'd be forced to run it during the day when I'm not trying to get some beauty sleep.
That backfired.
About a week ago, I woke up around 1am to a very loud *CHIIIIIIIIIING* coming from Caitlin's room. I laid in bed and listened to it for about 5 minutes.
*CHIIIIIIIIIIIIIING*
*CHIIIIIIIIIIIIIING*
*CHIIIIIIIIIIIIIING*
I could feel my blood pressure rising by the second.
Ooooooooohhhhhhhh that s...t...e....u....w....p....i.....d rodent!
I went to Cait's room and found Ruby P. standing up on the side of the cage using her teeth to pull on the metal bars--thus creating the *ching* noise. Are you kidding me?!? It was all an act of retaliation I was convinced.
So I let this noise fest go on for several nights. Just thought I'd learn to live with it. After all, don't give in to the rodent--she will never win!
I got up yesterday morning and was waiting at the front doors of Petsmart when it opened. I decided to get an aquarium (lots of people keep their hamsters in these) with a grated top so that way she'd have NOTHING to *ching* and it would be easier to clean. I bought all the goods, replaced her cage, made sure she had the basics---food bowl, water bottle that hangs from the side, big tube to sleep in..that's it. No extra fluff for her to demolish or irritate me with.
Last night at 1am----*BANG*
*BANG*
*BANG*
ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW?
I went into Caitlin's room. Ruby P. was attempting to climb the water bottle holder and she had knocked the water bottle sideways--thus creating a *BANG* noise when she would push against it.
I swear she smirked at me.
I removed the water bottle and decided that she didn't need to drink at 1am. She could wait until the morning.
As I left the room I said, "You know Ruby P, there's always fresh water and food in the field by the house." I think she stuck her tongue out at me.
Chalk one up for Momma....
2 comments:
ROFL!!!!!!
Wow! Sorry the hamster is giving you fits, but it sure was fun for me to hear about! :) Maybe she could just do without water at night...OOOOOOOOOOOR...you could put a boombox next to the hamster tank and make sure it makes a wide variety of annoying noises all day, so little miss Ruby will be awake all day, and sleep at night... lol!
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