Then there was a PS. Don’t forget to have food storage for your pets!

Wow, that’s, wow, duh! I should have thought of that myself! I have cats, so now I have an extra bag of cat food just in case, and when I can I’ll get some extra canned food as well. As soon as things go right financially (read: as soon as the car stops hating us – which I always fill when it reaches half a tank just in case). I will also be getting some cat harnesses and leashes and start training my cats to be comfortable in harnesses and eventually be outside walking with me. If we have to evacuate due to some emergency there is no way my cats can be in a cat carrier for 72 hours or more. That’s insane!

So, if you’re like me and think of your pets as a part of your family, they need to be included in your emergency preparedness plans.

A couple of days ago my daughter came in to wake me up in the morning saying, “Mama, Mama! Toulouse is getting into your drawer.” I mumbled and then said, “Did you smack him?” She said, “Yes.” I said, “Good” while promptly rolling over thinking the problem is over. Nope.

Hazel came dashing back up to my room saying, “Mama, mama! He’s doing it again! Toulouse is in your drawer and messing up your stuff!” I said, “Didn’t you smack him?” She said, “Yes, but he’s not listening! He’s being a bad cat!” Grumbling I got out of bed and when I made it down stairs not only was my drawer open, but the stuff in it was damaged. Some of Hazel’s art, and a set of pictures were perforated.

After dealing with the mess I put duct tape over the drawer. So far, so good. If he manages to figure out how to remove the duct tape then he deserves to muck with my stuff. Though at some point I’ll replace the duct tape with velcro. It works on the bottom drawer which came with the velcro on it to help keep it closed.

Of course, NOW my husband believes me. It wasn’t until Hazel got involved and I had a second witness to all this did he know the truth of it. I don’t know why he didn’t before. Afterall, Torakun taught Kittyrat and Toulouse how to open cabinet doors (which doesn’t work so well if the magnet to keep them closed is in good working order), so why not a small drawer?