“I’m taking a quick sniff to see if this drawer is worth licking.”,
A few weeks ago Mauricio started licking one of the kitchen cabinets and the drawer above it. No matter how many times we shooed him away, he kept going back. As that drawer and cabinet are next to the stove, I thought maybe we had slopped something on them when cooking so I wiped them down with some warm water.
Mauricio continued to return even after the wipe down. He could lick away for as much as a half-an-hour without his tongue tiring. I was starting to worry that he might lick off the finish.
I once again surveyed the exterior of the drawer and cabinet thoroughly and couldn’t see anything, and they didn’t feel sticky or goopy. The sniff test brought no answer. This time I cleaned the area with a Clorox® Wipe. That had to have done the job. Right?
“Hmmm, nothing here. I better try a different approach.”
“Okay, that’s the spot. I definitely smell something here.”
Wrong! Back Mauricio went to his job of licking, slurping and supposedly cleaning. For me, the next step was Windex® Multi-Surface Cleaner. Yippee! That seemed to do the trick, at least until today at lunchtime. Mauricio was at it again.
“Oh yeah…there’s definitely something yummy here. Can you see my expert tongue action?”
Tom baked bread yesterday, and the big mixer is on a lift inside the oft-tongued cabinet. I thought maybe he had spilled something on the front, but again the surface appeared clean and had no odor.
As I am writing this, Mauricio is back at it again. He has spent more time working on the glass drawer pull than in the past. Of course, because I have been busy writing this post, I have not as yet washed down the cabinet and drawer.
“Hey, what’s your problem? I’m just trying to help out. If you were a better housekeeper, I wouldn’t have to spend my valuable time cleaning up after you.” (The darkish spot behind the handle is cat spit.)
When I am finished I will have to see if he has successfully done the job for me or if I need to break out the Windex®.
MOL! Go for it Mauricio!
Purrs
Sorry Mauricio but how weird! Lol… some cats have strange obsessions I think.
Thank you kindly for your comforting words of sympathy about our dear Chica.
Yeah…. kitties can be odd… our Peanut has an obsession with licking plastic bags…
Very cute! I wonder what tastes so good? Vats are funny aren’t they?
xo C
Interesting conundrum but maybe OCD is the answer – Mauricio has decided that drawer pull needs his constant attention! LOL He’s certainly THOROUGH in his cleaning technique!
Pam (and Sam)
How very strange. Maybe get a small cloth to wrap around the handle? Could he be licking it because the glass is cool to the tongue?
First mistake, you’re worried more about the finish than the cat. Second mistake, you knowingly used something toxic where you knew the cat was going to lick. He may just be trying to get into the drawer. If he’s really bothering you, you can put sticky tape or citrus on it cos cats don’t like the smell of citrus or just open the drawer for him.
I really could care less about the cabinet. We are more amused by his behavior than anything else, which was the intent of the post. I really never anticipated getting suggestions on how to stop this behavior. Once I cleaned the area with the Windex the first time, he did not even go near it or try to lick it. Something has changed in the past few weeks to take him back to this behavior. He is not at all interested in having either the cabinet or the drawer opened. But thank you so much for your concern for our Mauricio. We would never, ever, ever, ever consider doing anything to hurt him.
I think he has some kind deficiency and is trying to self-medicate. If he keeps it up I would have a blood panel done. OCD, something is causing it.
Brian, I have a tendency to agree with your OCD suggestion. That really does fit his personality. Don’t know why I hadn’t thought of that.
hmmmm….that is strange. 🙂 Maybe he is trying to get INTO the cabinet. MOL
You are funny Mauricio. We wonder what it is that is getting your attention.
Maybe he is doing it to drives yous nuts! That is something me would do!
Kisses
Nellie
MOL you go Mauricio!!!
Most cats don’t like the smell of citrus. You can try rubbing that one it?
Well, us cats always want to keep the humans guessing.
That is a conundrum for sure!!!! Austin only does that kind of thing when he wants my attention, but once he gets it, he stops!! Am intrigued now! Hope you come up with an answer!
That licking is strange! I wonder what it is!
Thanks for coming by my blog. I love the title of your as I have often woken up to a cat on my head…
🙂 Sarah + the 3 cats
this one completely has me stumped!
Well?! What is it? What is he after? Something inside? I am as curious as a cat here!