Trips to the Pet Store: Treating Blue

Hi, I’m Amanda! Read my introduction to learn more about me and Blue, my fluffy fire point Himalayan-Persian cat.

One of our many family traditions includes monthly trips to the pet store to pick up food and litter. We slowly work our way through the fish section, learning a bit about the aquatic dwellers in each tank. Hermit crabs, plecos, mini frogs and snails are usually what catches our boys’ eyes first.

Next, we’re on to the reptiles. Although we don’t spot them often, we peer into the tanks of leopard geckos, snakes, and toads. The reptile section wouldn’t be complete without taking a gander at the various insects available for lizard food. Our kids love bugs, so the chirping crickets and wriggly mealworms are always a hit.

Next is the rodents. Fluffy guinea pigs, sleepy hamsters and the occasional energetic mouse running on an exercise wheel or vigorously drinking from the water dispenser make the boys both go awww. Birds are our final venture before hitting the cat food and litter isles.

The PetSmart by our home offers grooming services, so we always peek in the doors to see which adorable canines are in for a bath and cut. During our most recent visit, the cutest Shih Tzu had just wrapped up his blow out and was excitedly waiting for his owner. He was so happy to get a few pets from the boys that he ended up peeing on the floor. After saying our goodbyes, we were off to the last spot. Our most cherished part of the entire store. The cat adoption center.

Adoption Center Visits

Our home is full with two littles, a cat and a dog, so we’re not exactly in the market to adopt but learning the names a little something about each cat tugs at our heartstrings every time.

They’ve got felines of all ages and energy levels. Some are eager to engage when you stick your face up to the glass and attempt to chat, where others prefer sleep over interacting with the humans on the other side of the pane. The hardest part is keeping the boys a safe distance from the glass so as not to tap or disturb their little ears on the inside. But they get so dang excited it’s cute!

Spoiling Blue

This last trip was a little different though. As we were making our way to the checkout the boys spotted a cute cardboard scratcher house they insisted we bring home and fill with toys for Blue. It was a bright, summer day, and there’s a cute tire swing cat toy that hung in the door. We added it to our cart and allowed them each to pick out a new toy and a bag of treats. To help encourage Blue to use her new house, we also grabbed spray catnip.

Once we were home, we set up her new beach house, unwrapped her toys, and gave her a few treats to get her excited about her gifts. After generously spraying down the entrance, we let Blue explore her new gifts. Sadly, once the allure of catnip faded, her interest was no longer piqued.

Secret Playtime

I thought that was a wrap on the toys the boys had picked. Blue had her five minutes of fun and was no longer interested in what they had to offer. But late one night, while the rest of the house was sleeping, I heard her bat around her new bell balls. So maybe she enjoys our house the most when it’s calm and she can play with her toys in peace. To me, this was a sign to leave her toys out at bedtime more often.