Right next to my refrigerator there is a large, freestanding wooden utility
shelving unit, one of the "4 long sticks with shelves on it" variety.  I
have the bottom shelf well off the floor and the cat-box is underneath,
resting on the floor.  (It's a small kitchen, what can I say!)
 
Onyx has discovered that she can hike herself up on the edge of the
litterbox to reach the bottom shelf...which is especially fun because I
keep the cat and ferret food there, plus all sorts of keen stuff in
containers that she can knock off onto the floor.  This bugs me, needless
to say, and no amount of scolding, bitter apple, whatever, seems to stop
her from doing it.
 
So today I thought I'd get smart (hah)... I figured out I could move the
entire shelving unit over by a couple of inches, closer against the fridge,
and effectively block off the small gap (between bottom shelf and fridge)
that I'd seen her climb up through, so many times.
 
Well, it worked as planned; she couldn't get up there, and I had a
momentary gig of glee.  What I did NOT reckon on, silly me, was ferret
rule #1, which, by some chance spate of temporary insanity I had forgotten
about: "H*** hath no fury like a frustrated ferret."
 
About 5 minutes after she had discovered that she couldn't get up there so
easily anymore (though I bet she'll figure it out eventually), I had turned
my back to attend to something on the stove (moments only) and turned
back... to find the bottom front grill of the refrig half-pulled-off, and
Onyx nowhere in sight.
 
My blood ran cold at the sight of it, and though I did a quick, frantic
search for her in the other room, I knew where she'd gone.  I pulled the
grill the rest of the way off, and thank GOD located her, unmunched by the
fanbelt or any other horrid thing under there.  I had to contort myself a
bit, but finally got hold of her and pulled her out, dusty but safe.  Fed
her the bribe I had, hugged her lots, put her back in the cage with the
other 3 kids, and sat down and shook for a while.  :P
 
The grill has been firmly reattached and I'm seriously considering taping
the entire !#@*$% thing down.  This is the second major-appliance scare
I've had with her (first was the stove, now VERY well blocked off) and I'm
starting to wonder when the gray hair is going to show :P :P :P
 
Anyway, it was a happy ending, but please give your fuzzies a hug for me,
and double-check your fridge grills for your fuzzes.  (Any tips on
anchoring those things down??  I'd wedge a board in there but it seems like
it needs the air intake.)
 
Megan, &
Grover - Just you show'em to me, I'll troll'em!
Onyx - Momma whyfore you cussin' me and kissin' me at the same time??
Loki - I'm a year old now, I'm too big to be trolled. MOOMMMMMM!!!!
Satinka - Oh Loki, he's just a silly sable, I'll rescue you!
[Posted in FML issue 2552]