Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Excessive water bills?

My friend Jacky sent me an e-mail earlier today wherein she said (something like), "I seem to remember your telling me you once had a cat that would use the toilet."

Well, yes I did, but I had almost completely forgotten about it until her e-mail this morning. Let me give you the story.

I was in college. Undergraduate. Northern Michigan University. My senior year. Actually, my last 3-4 months of undergraduate school. I had a dorm room all to myself, on the ground floor. This room was unique. Had its own bathroom.

I've always been a cat lover. Always! I don't remember all of the particulars involved in taking this latest stray in and petting it, loving it, holding it, feeding it, etc. What I DO remember is that I didn't have to worry about purchasing a litter box. No, no, no! This cat was potty-trained. I mean, this cat was potty-trained! (I cannot take credit for the potty-training, and I do not have the VAGUest idea how one would go about doing such a thing, either, so don't ask me to give you any advice!)

ANYhoo, somehow or another, Jacky's mind being the steel trap that it is, she remembered my telling her the story of my potty-trained kitty and hence her e-mail to me.

Now, before you view the video below, I want you to know that this is not the cat I had in my dorm ... nor did my cat flush the toilet. And what ultimately happened to him/her (and I don't even remember now what sex my temporarily-adopted kitty was!) I don't know.

All I know for sure is, that I just got the HUGest kick out of this! Read the story behind this video first, OK? Here it is ... ...

Jennifer and Jim kept getting huge water bills. They knew beyond a doubt that the bills weren't representative of their actual usage, and no matter how they tried to conserve, the high bills continued. Although they could see nothing wrong ... they had everything checked for leaks or problems: first the water meter, then outdoor pipes, indoor pipes, underground pipes; faucets, toilets, washer, ice maker, etc., all to no avail.

One day Jim was sick and stayed home in bed, but kept hearing water running downstairs. He finally tore himself from his sick bed and went to investigate, thereby stumbling onto the cause of such high water bills. Apparently this had been happening all day long when they were not at home.

Knowing that few would believe him, he taped a segment of the 'problem' for posterity!


15 comments:

steven said...

that's hilarious! i'd love to know what it is that intrigues the cat about the water. it would be amazing to spend some time inside that cat's head . . . . . . if only to figure out what else it thinks and does!
steven

Goldenrod said...

I think the cat is trying to figure out where the water is going! Definitely fits the 'curiosity of a cat' expression.

My imagination goes back to the very first time the cat flushed the toilet. It would have been an accident, I'm sure. Cat would have been on top of the tank and used the handle as a stepping stone on the way down. Now THAT picture would have been funny!

When I first saw this, Steven, I just couldn't stop laughing. I played it over and over again until my cheeks hurt and my sides began to show signs of strain.

Goldenrod said...

Oh! Forgot to say that this cat does not fit the expression 'scaredy cat'. Most cats, I think, after that first big scare, would have stayed far away from the scene. And this is one smart cat. I've had only a couple like that ... most enjoyable! I'll bet this cat talks a lot to his family, too.

Tammy said...

This WAS funny! The girls and Monty enjoyed it as much as I did. :)

Of our 3 cats, one (Gypsy, Katie's cat) loves water. He is very insistent that he watch any shower or bath that happens in our home. He will sit on the edge of the tub or stand on the floor with his paws and head hanging over the tub. If he should accidentally be left out, he will paw at the door the entire time the door is shut just begging to be let into the bathroom. He's never shown an interest in the water in the toilet, though. lol!

Thanks for posting this, Goldenrod!

Goldenrod said...

You're welcome, Tammy. Don't think I've EVER come across a cat that 'loved' water! Not that they can't swim. They're excellent swimmers! But love it, much less like it? No.

Chuck said...

Cute. (My cat prefers to drink "fresh" water -- not from the toilet but from the faucet -- either the sink or the whirlpool tub. And she has "taught" 3 different pet-sitters to turn the water on for her every time they come over.)

Chuck said...

Just remembered -- I have a video of M&M drinking from the tub faucet at http://chucksadventures.blogspot.com/2007/07/m-and-faucet.html

Goldenrod said...

Some posts are just more fun than others, aren't they? You can betcher sweet bippy, Chuck, that I'm going to check out your post from 2007 of M&M. Think I've commented on almost ALL of your cat-related posts ... obvious reasons.

Evidently you are not one of her 'trainable' subjects. Either that, or she is only acquiescent with you around and not very vocal, either, I should probably add. If I had tried to 'get away with' leaving Serendipity alone for three months while I went away, she'd have disowned me ... either that, or I'd still be getting flak to this very day (albeit from her grave) on how I mistreated her!

Oh, too funny! Rrvit, rrvit, rrvit!!

Goldenrod said...

Forgot to add that Jacky sent me an e-mail in re my saying that her mind was like a steel trap, and I quote, "My 'steel trap mind' is more like a messy filing cabinet with all sorts of 'stuff' floating around in there. Sometimes things just connect like telling about your 'toilet-trained' cat."

Another rrvit!

Chuck said...

I could never be away from M&M for 3 months. She's with us at Ellen's now for the 4 months we'll be here, and she will only be with a sitter for the 6 weeks of our trip (so you unfortunately won't meet her in Texas when we see you.)

Craig Peihopa said...

Wonderful post, heres one cat that often feels flushed!

Goldenrod said...

OK, Craig, you've got me going here with your comment. Extrapolate, will you?

Craig Peihopa said...

I figure any attempt at humour that needs explanation has instantly proven to be faux humour! here when the toilet is "flushed" or the waste is removed nah it isn't worth explaining anymore, not to worry Goldenrod! a great post nonetheless!

Goldenrod said...

When I first read your comment, Craig, my mind went several different directions ... double entendres, humor (sardonic? ill?), pathos, your possible mood when you wrote it ... and so, the first thing I did was check your most recent post, which was one (I thought) of extreme sadness and disappointment with people in general. Then I decided to just leave it alone for a few hours and come back to it fresh. I did. Still didn't know quite how to interpret it, which is why I asked for a further explanation. You started to give me one, and then stopped in frustration, I guess.

Still don't know quite what you meant, but I'll let it go. We'll just chalk it up to a 71-yr. old's 'not as flexible as it used to be' gray matter.

Craig Peihopa said...

Honestly Goldenrod, there was nothing other than humour I assure uou. Here in OZ when you are feeling less than good, fluish, feverish you are said to be looking or feeling flushed. And I attempted to say the cat flushing the loo or toilet was feeling flushed. that's all.

It is all good. I stopped on the previous entry because I wrote when the waste is washed away and toilet humour is probably the last thing you wanted on your blog!

Take care and thanks my friend.