# Dammit, cat! It's only a "computer mouse!" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 25, 2005, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-cat-its-only-a-computer-mouse/318524 "2005-08-25T01:26:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-cat-its-only-a-computer-mouse/318524/1 "2005-08-25T01:26:30Z")
Do you have any idea how hard it is to type with two cats trying to “help” you type, or laying on the mouse cord, or trying to catch the cursor as it moves across the screen? Ewwwww…cat slobber on the \ bar. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-cat-its-only-a-computer-mouse/318524/2 "2005-08-25T01:29:29Z")
I can sympathize - Cricket is currently lying on the desk with both back feet shoved against my mouse hand. Her other favorite position is in my lap, from where she can reach the “lightning paw of doom” out to add unnecessary letters and spaces to my typing. But she purrs while she does it. How can you be angry at a purrin’ kitty-boo? ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-cat-its-only-a-computer-mouse/318524/3 "2005-08-25T01:32:19Z")
One of [Boo’s](http://www.sirblah.com/photo/view.php?album=Pets&start=90&pic=pets95.JPG&picindex=94) favorite moves is to jump onto my lap and headbutt my hand to let me know that petting time has arrived. Not a big deal in and of itself, but damnit cat, can’t you see I’m trying to operate a mouse with that hand?? ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-cat-its-only-a-computer-mouse/318524/4 "2005-08-25T01:41:55Z")
The Kittenator decided I needed help installing an alarm system in the truck today. Jumping on wiring harnesses, bumping my arms as I’m trying to solder wires, getting a tail in between my head and what I’m trying to see…such a good helper. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-cat-its-only-a-computer-mouse/318524/5 "2005-08-25T01:51:50Z")
All of my cats like to play on my computer, but one of 'em, [Elvis Pussley](http://www.mortalwombat.com/ElvisPussley/CatCase.jpg), has taken this a step further. ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-cat-its-only-a-computer-mouse/318524/6 "2005-08-25T02:51:16Z")
Hav you any idea how har it is to type with two cats attacking each other right over the key board? ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-cat-its-only-a-computer-mouse/318524/7 "2005-08-25T05:22:37Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Do you have any idea how hard it is to type with two cats trying to “help” you type, or laying on the mouse cord, or trying to catch the cursor as it moves across the screen? YEAsdngs, I hav’easodg someeada’ ideadnag’s ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-cat-its-only-a-computer-mouse/318524/8 "2005-08-25T05:46:42Z")
Well of course they know they’re computer mice. But then they are computer cats. The latest model. Previous editions of cat only sat down on printed type. And before that, there was the illuminated manuscript cat. The most primitive form of cat rubbed itself up against cuniform tables. I have no doubt there are Egyptian scrolls that could be tranlated as “And in that age the great Pharoh dhdfdf…err…Seti…”. And encrusted on that passage a tell tale cat hair. I have to wonder if we have been to lax in taking into accout the feline campaign agaist the written word. What are they thinking??? _Goes to pet cat so They won’t suspect._ ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-cat-its-only-a-computer-mouse/318524/9 "2005-08-25T05:47:52Z")
> [@pinkfreud](#): > > All of my cats like to play on my computer, but one of 'em, [Elvis Pussley](http://www.mortalwombat.com/ElvisPussley/CatCase.jpg), has taken this a step further. “Sir, I believe we’ve located the problem with your computer. I also think you can stop looking for your cat.” ---
**Author:** ![Pixisis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@Pixisis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixisis)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-cat-its-only-a-computer-mouse/318524/10 "2005-08-25T05:54:12Z")
Whenever I use my laptop, Pixel **must** be in my lap, between me and the computer. Fortunately, he contents himself with placing a paw on the edge of the case below the keyboard and “proofreading”. It’s amazing how quickly I adapted to the long reach 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-cat-its-only-a-computer-mouse/318524/11 "2005-08-25T15:12:54Z")
Y’all need to get yourselves some [weaselballs](http://www.weaselballs.com/). Before you set down to some serious computing, just turn on the weasel ball and bring it to the cat’s/kitten’s attention. These little toys are irresistible to felines, or at least to MY felines. The Merecat, in particular, will play with the weasel ball for an hour or so, after which she has to take a kitten nap. Of course, you should always give your cats and kittens a great deal of quality time, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t sneak off and do stuff on the computer every now and then. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-cat-its-only-a-computer-mouse/318524/12 "2005-08-25T15:41:35Z")
Our kitties are at the stage where “quality time” means that Havoc is standing on my head, while Pixel eats whatever I am reading. Then they suddenly think they’re ninjas. But when both of them try to sleep on my keyboard at the same time… Time to order weaselballs. Lots and lots of weaselballs. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-cat-its-only-a-computer-mouse/318524/13 "2005-08-25T16:00:11Z")
My greatest foe in World of Warcraft is my cat. She likes the warm laptop and I end up playing one handed half the time because she’s blocking the keyboard. Don’t know how many times I died because she decided to get up and stretch at a bad moment. ---
**Author:** ![harmless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/2acd7d/32.png) [@harmless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmless)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-cat-its-only-a-computer-mouse/318524/14 "2005-08-25T16:01:44Z")
> [@Hal Briston](#): > > One of [Boo’s](http://www.sirblah.com/photo/view.php?album=Pets&start=90&pic=pets95.JPG&picindex=94) favorite moves is to jump onto my lap and headbutt my hand \ Also not helpful when you are about to take a swig of beer. :mad: > [@Lynn Bodoni](#): > > Y’all need to get yourselves some weaselballs. Tried it. Scared the crap out of the cats. The youngest has just noticed the pointer for the first time the other night. Not a good thing with a flat screen LCD monitor. Mostly she likes to sit behind the monitor and peep out at me while I’m playing. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-cat-its-only-a-computer-mouse/318524/15 "2005-08-25T17:52:49Z")
The trick is to have the monitor further away from you. [Sasha almost caught it that time](http://www.evilblog.net/gallery/sasha/Sasha_Jump). ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-cat-its-only-a-computer-mouse/318524/16 "2005-08-25T18:47:36Z")
Nixie likes to keep our computer mouse [under close control](http://photobucket.com/albums/b305/Bookkeeper2/Cats/?action=view¤t=2004-01Nixiehatchingmouse.jpg). Usually she jumps up and hunkers down with my hand on it, at which point I sloooowly slide it out from under her and wait for her to get bored and leave. Mousing beneath her belly can flip her from “affection slut” mode to “weasel” mode very quickly. (If cats can be bi-polar, she would be the poster kitty.) ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-cat-its-only-a-computer-mouse/318524/17 "2005-08-25T23:41:56Z")
It’s also hard to print anything when your black long-hair keeps shoving her head inside the inkjet to see where all that noise is coming from. Makes my paperwork a mite fuzzy. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-cat-its-only-a-computer-mouse/318524/18 "2005-08-26T01:10:10Z")
> [@dwyr](#): > > It’s also hard to print anything when your black long-hair keeps shoving her head inside the inkjet to see where all that noise is coming from. > > Makes my paperwork a mite fuzzy. My old printer had a clear plastic cover on top. One day, the cat was lounging around on my desk when I started to print something. Petunia\* saw the print head darting back & forth and immediately tried to catch it. The plastic cover blocked any direct attacks, but Petunia quickly figured out that she could reach under the cover to swipe at the print head. I had to reprint that document, but it was so funny that I didn’t get mad at her. \*My sister named her. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-cat-its-only-a-computer-mouse/318524/19 "2005-08-26T12:55:22Z")
Maybe just let the cat make a post. I did that with the Pomeranian I was taking care of: > **[A post from a pomeranian](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=36846)** > > \-=====================================================================\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[\[frrrrrrrk ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-cat-its-only-a-computer-mouse/318524/20 "2005-08-26T18:27:33Z")
Oscar hates my laptop. He really hates it. Is insanely jealous of it because it takes away from his Mommy time. So what does he do? He climbs onto my lap while I’m checking mail and boards, stretches out across my chest, and rests both back paws on the space bar so that I can’t type. Then he rolls over so that I have to hold him like a baby and he can gaze adoringly at me. It’s a good thing I like him. E. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-cat-its-only-a-computer-mouse/318524.md?page=2)