Bad monkeys!

Johnny & Simon (often semi-affectionately referred to as "the monkeys" at our house) are in big trouble.

They have always had this thoroughly annoying obsession with food: hunting for food, smelling food, finding food, stealing food, licking food, eating food... (and you can replace the word "food" in the previous sentence with "anything that remotely looks, sounds, smells, or tastes like food, or meets none of the above criteria but nonetheless fits in their mouths").

Having lived with J&S for about 16 months now, we've learned to make some accomodations and special arrangements to help keep this food addiction under control. Carefully measured meal portions, with supervised feedings to ensure everyone only eats his own food. People food is never left anywhere accessible, ever. Dishes must be washed or put in the dishwasher immediately. For months and months, the cats were put in their carriers whenever we were eating.

But now I fear the monkeys have at last learned how to knock over the garbage can in the kitchen. We had a problem with the garbage in our apartment. They knew it contained food of some sort and I suppose they thought it smelled really delicious. So the garbage lived in the cupboard under the sink. Eventually, they figured out how to open the cupboards, so we got some of those child-proof latches. That pretty much solved things.

Fast-forward to our condo. The cupboards in our kitchen are smaller, and no reasonable size of garbage can will fit. So we got a big plastic garbage can with a pop-top that sits in the kitchen. Since we moved here in August, the kitties have occasionally managed to knock over the garbage can and send the contents flying, but this has been mostly an unintentional action. (Picture 2 hyper adolescent cats wrestling and chasing each other all over the condo, and accidentally running smack into the garbage can with remarkable force.)

The last few days, however, the garbage has been knocked over regularly. I fear the monkeys have at last learned how to knock it over whenever they want. Which is really annoying, gross to clean up, and not safe for J&S (because really, none of us should be eating rotting food). Plus, it's just a plain old bad habit. Not sure how we're going to remedy this situation, but something will have to be done, or a little monkey cat might just end up strangled soon! (Probably Johnny. I'm pretty sure he's the instigator.)