About a month ago, Mush decided his favourite place was on top of the high bookcase in my office, and the only way he get up there was to jump on the computer monitor and kick off from there, inevitably knocking the monitor over in the process.

Trying to give him an alternative way up, I tried to pick him up and lift him onto the bookcase. The first time I tried it he went berserk and tore the skin off his arm. But today, after much perseverance, instead of going for the monitor he climbed up me (what's a few claw marks between friends?) and sat on my shoulder, waiting for me to stand up and take him to the bookcase.

Now I'm wondering whether I've successfully trained him or the other way round.

Copyright © Claire Fay
January 9, 2002