Pamela McCord's Blog
November 9, 2020
Allie and the Litter Box
I have a funny story about my cat, Allie.
She's 12 now. My 91 year-old mom found her when she was only a couple of weeks old. Allie was a terror. She was feral and NOT friendly. She was a fierce hunter and loved to roam. Because my mother was getting older and I was afraid of what would happen to Allie if anything happened to my mom, I contacted the TV show, "My Cat From Hell," and pleaded my case. The show was interested and in 2013 Allie appeared in her own episode of the show. Allie improved about 110%. Not that she became sweet and docile, but she became a LITTLE sweeter. In fact, she's actually affectionate now, although she still has a temper.
Shortly after the episode aired, my mother passed away and I inherited Allie, which was always my intent. She's been living with me for the past seven years.
Now the part that's the story. For her entire life, Allie pooped on the floor. She used her litter box to pee in but was stubborn about the other. My poor mom. Allie's favorite place was the kitchen floor, and my mom had to duck under the kitchen table to clean up the mess, crawling around on the floor when she was in her 90s!
When Allie came to live with me, she continued her habit of foregoing the litter box. I talked to a cat psychic who said she wanted another, bigger litter box, so I bought one of those sweater boxes that you hide under your bed and used that for the second litter box. Unfortunately, that didn't work. After about five years I moved to a new condo with wood floors and no carpet. From the first day, Allie was perfect and used her litter box like a little trooper.
Until about five months ago, when I started to see little piles on the floor in the dining room. I was horrified. I thought Allie had turned the corner! I tried everything. I yelled at her when I found her mistakes. I watched her like a hawk and stopped her when it was obvious what she was about to do and redirected her to her litter box. I'd get up every few minutes at night to see if I could catch her in the act and stop her before she erred.
She knew it wasn't right and she worried over it. When it was time to go, she'd start doing this plaintive meow (which was a benefit to me because I could jump right on the problem). If I heard her, I'd rush to the dining room and she'd be at her favorite poop place and I'd tell her to go use her litter box. She'd slink around meowing but would finally head off to her box. If I was watching TV or something and heard her meowing, sometimes it wouldn't register and I'd go find a little pile on the dining room floor.
She'd be good for a few days or a week, and I'd imagine things had gone back to normal, but then she'd mess up again. Somewhere along the line, I had a brilliant idea. I would grab a kitty treat and show it to her and lead her to her box and tell her that if she used her litter box I'd give her the treat. Then I'd sit down and watch her and wait until she did her thing, and give her the treat. After a couple of times, she made the connection. She was still reluctant sometimes, but she would meow to let me know she was anxious about what she was supposed to do, so I'd get a treat and entice her to her litter box and all would be well.
Things have been great for about a month. She only messed up once. The funny thing is that now she comes and tells me when she's used her litter box so that I can give her a treat. I adore the little monster.
She's 12 now. My 91 year-old mom found her when she was only a couple of weeks old. Allie was a terror. She was feral and NOT friendly. She was a fierce hunter and loved to roam. Because my mother was getting older and I was afraid of what would happen to Allie if anything happened to my mom, I contacted the TV show, "My Cat From Hell," and pleaded my case. The show was interested and in 2013 Allie appeared in her own episode of the show. Allie improved about 110%. Not that she became sweet and docile, but she became a LITTLE sweeter. In fact, she's actually affectionate now, although she still has a temper.
Shortly after the episode aired, my mother passed away and I inherited Allie, which was always my intent. She's been living with me for the past seven years.
Now the part that's the story. For her entire life, Allie pooped on the floor. She used her litter box to pee in but was stubborn about the other. My poor mom. Allie's favorite place was the kitchen floor, and my mom had to duck under the kitchen table to clean up the mess, crawling around on the floor when she was in her 90s!
When Allie came to live with me, she continued her habit of foregoing the litter box. I talked to a cat psychic who said she wanted another, bigger litter box, so I bought one of those sweater boxes that you hide under your bed and used that for the second litter box. Unfortunately, that didn't work. After about five years I moved to a new condo with wood floors and no carpet. From the first day, Allie was perfect and used her litter box like a little trooper.
Until about five months ago, when I started to see little piles on the floor in the dining room. I was horrified. I thought Allie had turned the corner! I tried everything. I yelled at her when I found her mistakes. I watched her like a hawk and stopped her when it was obvious what she was about to do and redirected her to her litter box. I'd get up every few minutes at night to see if I could catch her in the act and stop her before she erred.
She knew it wasn't right and she worried over it. When it was time to go, she'd start doing this plaintive meow (which was a benefit to me because I could jump right on the problem). If I heard her, I'd rush to the dining room and she'd be at her favorite poop place and I'd tell her to go use her litter box. She'd slink around meowing but would finally head off to her box. If I was watching TV or something and heard her meowing, sometimes it wouldn't register and I'd go find a little pile on the dining room floor.
She'd be good for a few days or a week, and I'd imagine things had gone back to normal, but then she'd mess up again. Somewhere along the line, I had a brilliant idea. I would grab a kitty treat and show it to her and lead her to her box and tell her that if she used her litter box I'd give her the treat. Then I'd sit down and watch her and wait until she did her thing, and give her the treat. After a couple of times, she made the connection. She was still reluctant sometimes, but she would meow to let me know she was anxious about what she was supposed to do, so I'd get a treat and entice her to her litter box and all would be well.
Things have been great for about a month. She only messed up once. The funny thing is that now she comes and tells me when she's used her litter box so that I can give her a treat. I adore the little monster.
Another Ghost Story
I'm enjoying writing another ghost story, tentatively titled "Ghost Story (The Continuing Adventures of Laurel Palmer)." It's a light-hearted cozy story told by the ghost herself. I'm only 35,000 words into it so far and figuring out the path of the story. I know the ending, but somehow I have to get there!
I'm also looking forward to the release of my third Pekin Dewlap mystery on March 20, "The Problem at Wisteria Gardens.) I'm still trying to decide whether there should be a fourth in the series...
I'm also looking forward to the release of my third Pekin Dewlap mystery on March 20, "The Problem at Wisteria Gardens.) I'm still trying to decide whether there should be a fourth in the series...
January 22, 2020
More Ghosts!
Big news! My third book is coming out May 15, 2020! It's not a continuation of my Pekin Dewlap Mystery series (although that one is definitely in progress and I hope to be finished soon). This one is a mystery. A single mother struggling with grief after the recent death of her husband, an attractive detective, a missing child. And a ghostly voice emanating from Alexa, a cylindrical, inanimate object created as a virtual assistant. The cover will be revealed on March 15. I'm very excited for this book, and I hope you will look forward to reading it.
November 14, 2019
Starting a new one
My second book in the Pekin Dewlap Mystery series comes out soon, and I’ve started on the third one. I’m at that early stage, where I’m only about 6,000 words in, and can’t help feeling frustration at the thought that I need another 50,000 words. Where will they come from? I’m a very literal person, and my writing wants to come straight to the point, so fleshing out a story is something I struggle with at times. I look at my progress and wonder when will I ever get there?
Some of the authors I know have the opposite problem. Too many words. They have to find places to cut. Sometimes I wish I had that problem.
It’s a mystery to me how some writers can turn out a book every year, or even more than one book a year. Can I learn to do that?
For now, I’m going to keep plugging along on book 3 and trust that the words will come.
Some of the authors I know have the opposite problem. Too many words. They have to find places to cut. Sometimes I wish I had that problem.
It’s a mystery to me how some writers can turn out a book every year, or even more than one book a year. Can I learn to do that?
For now, I’m going to keep plugging along on book 3 and trust that the words will come.
August 28, 2019
Welcome!
My book, "The Haunting of Elmwood Manor, A Pekin Dewlap Mystery," was published in March of this year. I've been super negligent in promoting it, either through blogging or book signings. I guess working full time distracts me from focusing on getting to know my fans. It seems strange to say "fans," as famous people have fans, and I'm not famous. (Except in a very small circle of family and friends.) Anyway, I'm in the process of figuring out how do do this author thing.
This past weekend, I went to the San Diego Festival of Books, and sat at a long table with other authors from my publisher, Acorn Publishing. I had a ton of props: business cards with a picture of my book and a catch phrase on the back; book marks with a short synopsis of the story; coasters (I know, maybe an odd choice, but I wanted mine to be different from the usual collection of give-aways) with the cover of my book prominently featured. I kept telling people they could take enough for a whole set, but I don't think they thought I was serious. But I was! I had copies of my book set out, and a poster with a picture of my book.
My wonderful sister came to the Festival with me. She was such a huge part of the experience. She did a lot of shopping to pick up items I needed for the Festival, and helped me carry all my supplies and set up my space, and she kept me company for the whole day. My brother and sister-in-law let us spend the weekend with them since they lived close to Liberty Station. My sister-in-law drove over with me and my sister, and a while later my brother arrived. (It's great to be surrounded by supportive people who go out of their way for you.) For the first two hours I didn't sell a single book, and then my brother bought one! At least when I went to work on Monday and people asked me how the book signing went I could say I sold one. I wouldn't necessarily have to mention that it was my brother. After he left, however, I managed to sell several more copies, both paperback and hard cover. So, wow! I observed techniques of the other authors, considering which might work for me. If (I should probably say when) I do this again, I'll have an idea what I'm getting into and how I can be successful at it.
There was one little girl, maybe around 11, who stopped by and looked at my book and read the back cover. Her mom said she was very aware of how much money she had to spend on books, and then they wandered away saying they'd think about it. A couple of hours later, I looked up to see the little girl, this time with a huge smile on her face. Her mother said she'd been talking about wanting to come back to get my book. That kind of made the whole day worthwhile.
Anyway, I hope to become a prolific blogger, just in case anyone comes here hoping to get to know me. Thank you for checking in!
This past weekend, I went to the San Diego Festival of Books, and sat at a long table with other authors from my publisher, Acorn Publishing. I had a ton of props: business cards with a picture of my book and a catch phrase on the back; book marks with a short synopsis of the story; coasters (I know, maybe an odd choice, but I wanted mine to be different from the usual collection of give-aways) with the cover of my book prominently featured. I kept telling people they could take enough for a whole set, but I don't think they thought I was serious. But I was! I had copies of my book set out, and a poster with a picture of my book.
My wonderful sister came to the Festival with me. She was such a huge part of the experience. She did a lot of shopping to pick up items I needed for the Festival, and helped me carry all my supplies and set up my space, and she kept me company for the whole day. My brother and sister-in-law let us spend the weekend with them since they lived close to Liberty Station. My sister-in-law drove over with me and my sister, and a while later my brother arrived. (It's great to be surrounded by supportive people who go out of their way for you.) For the first two hours I didn't sell a single book, and then my brother bought one! At least when I went to work on Monday and people asked me how the book signing went I could say I sold one. I wouldn't necessarily have to mention that it was my brother. After he left, however, I managed to sell several more copies, both paperback and hard cover. So, wow! I observed techniques of the other authors, considering which might work for me. If (I should probably say when) I do this again, I'll have an idea what I'm getting into and how I can be successful at it.
There was one little girl, maybe around 11, who stopped by and looked at my book and read the back cover. Her mom said she was very aware of how much money she had to spend on books, and then they wandered away saying they'd think about it. A couple of hours later, I looked up to see the little girl, this time with a huge smile on her face. Her mother said she'd been talking about wanting to come back to get my book. That kind of made the whole day worthwhile.
Anyway, I hope to become a prolific blogger, just in case anyone comes here hoping to get to know me. Thank you for checking in!
