Learning By Example

            We had been across town shopping.  The traffic was heavy on the interstate.  I decided to take back roads home.  It would be longer, but yet faster in this case.  The children, one in the front seat and two in the back, were quiet.  But then something seemed to catch each one’s eyes at the same time.  It was a sign near the street that read, “Free Kittens.”

            “May we get a kitten, mom?”

            It didn’t take much coaxing as I turned around at the next street and headed back.  Upon stopping, we found someone home.  They were more than willing to show us the kittens.  We left that day with an orange and white female calico kitten.  A name came easy for this little soft creature.  From a soap opera character on television, we named her Tina.

            Tina instantly fit in the family.  Although she only slept and ate, she was adored by the children.  They gave her love and she gave it back.  She was a perfect little companion for all.  The children all took turns feeding and changing the litter box.  I felt it would be my job, but surprisingly they took care of her without being told.  And this may well have been the reason I had not picked upon clues about Tina’s behavior.

            The children were at school and my husband was at work.  I was cleaning the house.  I stopped in my tracks as I heard what I thought was someone using the bathroom.  It was fear that overcame me.  I was home alone.  My first thought was to leave the house.  But then curiosity played a part in my decision as I slowly peeped around the door to look inside the bathroom.  I started to laugh at what I saw.  There before my eyes I witnessed Tina with legs spread and using the commode.  I had no idea cats could use the human bathroom.  But there it was before my very eyes.  I couldn’t wait to tell the children when they got home from school.

            It was my seven year old, Teresa, who admits to this very day that she was the one who taught Tina to use the bathroom.

            “I would wake up in the middle of the night having to go to the bathroom.  I was scared and so I took Tina with me.  She watched and I guess learned to use the bathroom.”  She laughed.  “I guess you could say that I am the one who taught her.”

            “What about the litter box?”  I asked.

            “We didn’t have much cleaning there.”  They all replied.

            We haven’t been lucky enough to have another cat duplicate Tina’s bathroom using.  But I still laugh about the day I caught Tina using the bathroom for the first time.  It amazes me about what animals, especially cats, may pick up from their owners.  It’s with their two little eyes cats may very well be watching and learning by example.