Hi everyone,
 
My name is Heidi and I am owned by two wonder-fur fuzzies, my son Fubu
(aka Fubu-looboo and Fubarino) and my daughter Sassy (aka Sassafras,
sassalicious, but most of all--Sassa-brat).
 
It is Sassy that I am most worried about right now because she is the one
who seems to worm her way into the most precarious positions and places.
 
We just moved into our new townhouse and, unlike our former house, we have
a very open floor plan and are unable to blockade the kitchen to keep the
fuzzies out.  I did my fert-mom best to protect them from the dangers under
the cabinets, stove, refrigerator, etc., but one thing I can't do is keep
them off the counter.
 
There is a half wall next to a bay window that is near the couch, etc., so
they just have an easy climb to gain access to the counter.  I don't mind
them up there becuase they are much cleaner than my fiancee ;) but I am
concerned about Sassy's new preoccupation.  She has discovered that the
sink strainer/ drain plug has a rubber topper.  She has also decided that
this is going to be HER fun toy to stash in her hidey hole.
 
I caught the little Sassabrat (1 lb 2 oz) running across the counter with
this huge strainer in her mouth and she didn't give it up easily.  So when
I took it away from her and put it back in the sink, she pulled it out
again and discovered that it actually plugs up a much more interesting hole
that she can poke her nose into... the GARBAGE disposal.  So, I immediately
put her on the floor and went looking for some way to secure this new
deadly ferret cave from my Sassy's insatiable curiosity.  I have yet to
find anything permanent or utilitarian.  The only thing keeping her out of
it now is a sink full of dirty dishes :) but I can't live that way forever
(although my fiancee tries to see how long he can leave his dinner dishes
there before I explode..haha).
 
Keeping them off the counter is physically not a viable option due to the
layout of the house.  I tried buying a sink stopper with a metal head that
she couldn't pick up in her mouth, but even without the rubber she was able
to get a grip on it.  I also tried a basket strainer with no pull handle,
but it is so light that she just pushes on it until she can flip it out
of the hole.  I also tried putting a heavy bowl over the hole to block it
while we weren't using the sink, but the ferts are stronger than you expect
and together they just push it out of the way.
 
I really don't know what else to try and I have scoured Home Depot looking
for possibilities.  I decided to put the question out there in hopes that
a fellow FML'r might have run into this problem and can give me a new
direction.
 
Thanks for the help.
 
Heidi (and Rick)
proud parents of 1yr old Fubu and 9 mo. old Sassy
[Posted in FML issue 3394]