Kitty Saga Continued and Money Saved

I felt guilty all yesterday afternoon for "locking" my poor kitty in a dog crate.  But it's for her own good, right??

First let me tell you that I now know why the kitty playpens are "tiered".  This morning when I went to let Cabby out I realized that she had kicked litter all over the inside of her crate.  (hopefully not on purpose, but you never know..)   All over her bed, all over the floor, in her water dish....    I felt so bad that I didn't even make her go back in it once she was done with breakfast this morning.  I'm just going to wait until the playpen arrives later today.

Yes, later TODAY!  I had it shipped overnight.  I bought the pen off Amazon for $99.  For shits and giggles I chose "overnight delivery" just to see what the charge would be.  WHOA!  It was $105!!!!

Don't worry - I didn't pay more than the pen to actually get it shipped to me...

I was thinking maybe I'd fork over another $10 or so to get it here overnight, or even 2 day.  But definitley not over $100!  Especially since I could get it shipped ground for free anyway.   But as I was checking out I was prompted to accept a free month trial of a "Amazon Prime" membership.  You pay $79 a year and get free 2 day shipping and $3.99 overnight shipping on all your purchases.  Hummmmm... 

A plan started to develop...

The hubby and I buy stuff from Amazon on occasion.  I can't remember the last time something we bought didn't qualify for free shipping.  (ground, of course).  But we have never been in that much of a hurry.  So I definitely didn't want to actually pay $79 for this year "membership".  But this could really be a boon for this particular purchase!!

So I signed up!  And I got that 46 lb. playpen shipped overnight for $4!!!!

Of course the catch with the membership is that after a month they will automatically charge you the $79 unless you tell them not to.  So I immediately went back into my account and chose "do not auto renew" and I'm done.

Four dollar overnight shipping and I don't have to worry about getting a surprise charge.  I LOVE it when I work it to my advantage!!

I hope Cabby likes the open, tiered playpen more than she likes the crate....    More on this after we recieve and set up the playpen....

"children" problems

One of our children is acting up again.  Cabby peed on the kitchen island again!!!  ARG!!!  This time the hubby found it and it was none too pleased.  (welcome to my world, hon...)

I was on the phone with the vet for quite a while but really had already decided what to do.  I ordered a cat playpen. 

I know, I know.  I'm turning into one of them...  But I cannot continue to have my cat pee on my island.  (Thank god it's a "solid" surface material by DuPont so I can disinfection the crap out of it... pun intended...)

Until it arrives I'm going to put her in one of the huge dog crates.  She'll have her own litter box, water and food and will not have to be worried about getting picked on by the other "bullies".  But she's so skittish in her old age that you can just walk about a foot past her and she'll cower, hiss and meow at you.  Maybe even try a whap or two.  I think this solution will really help her.  I have a nice sunny place by the piano already picked out for her.

The poor girl is 14.... and half blind.  All she does is lay in one place on the back of the sofa or on the bar stool at the kitchen island, eat and go the bathroom.  If she were a younger cat I'd probably feel guilty penning her in all the time but I think Cabby's going to love it.  That is - so long as she can figure out that they other cats can't get to her....  And then at night when I'm watching TV she can snuggle up with me on the sofa.

I just have a feeling this cat is going to last a looong time....  so I might as well just buck up and make her comfy.  She's not goin' anywhere...

Update:
I went home at lunch and the hubby and I set up Cabby's new digs in one of the dog crates.  Much to my amazement she did NOT like it!!  (at first....)  She yowled and yowled... you'd a thought I really had skinned her!  But she finally started to settle down and check out her new temporary abode.  I just sat there watching her for about 10 minutes.  She used her head to rub up against the crate door - like she was looking for an exit, she got her front paws in the litter box - twice - but didn't actually "go" (probably doesn't like an audience), "smelled" the water dish, and kneaded and made several "cat loops" on her bed.  But she never did lay down while I watched her and I had to get back to work.

After I got back to work I was hoping she was doing better so I IM'd the hubby:
me: how's Cabby?  Any better since I left??
hubby:  She dumped her food and is running the bowl along the door singing 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot...'