On Maggie's new trick ...

I have a kitten of above average intelligence.  In fact, she's so smart - we have a very difficult time keeping things "kitten proofed."

Caught in the act trying to open the door!

It only took her about a week to figure out how to unlatch the screen door - and about two weeks to figure out how the door opens.  She can't turn the knob yet, but, we catch her on the baker's rack by the door trying her best!

Her newest trick is annoying, but funny!  One day, a small piece of trash on the floor was sucked into my fan - and the resulting noise was fascinating to her.  She ran around the fan - investigating the cause of the commotion. That was all it took to set her imagination on fire.

The next days were filled with her "testing" different types of paper to see which made the best noise.  She would get in the kitchen trash can and find something that looked promising, then run into the living room to try it out.  I even found her inside a trash bag I was using to clean the house one day!

She prefers the sound of cellophane - it makes the loudest, crispest noise.  Anytime we open a pack of cigarettes, or a snack - she watches to see where the trash goes, then retrieves it for a trip through the fan.  As I write this, I'm watching her attempt to force the wrapper from a snack cake through the back of the fan.

It's funny, and cute - but extremely annoying in the middle of the night!