The Quest for Sleep, part 3

How is this cat causing so many problems and issues? Look at him? He's beautiful and that face is so sweet. And how peaceful is this picture? He's reclining on my...well, what is that? Oh yes, it's my stretching guide from the physical therapist that he's torn halfway out of the binder. Thanks, Quincy-man.

The saga continues...How Do People Win against the Will of their Pet? (I think I'm very thankful right now that we aren't parents...we would so LOSE if this were a kid who was beating us at the game of life and sleep and will power.)

Night #2 of sleep separation for Quincy began with us, very anxious, but also deliriously tired. Since the stacked gates had worked finally the night before, it seemed only natural to continue that.

Here's what it looks like:

Interestingly enough, Leslie had said something last weekend, as we told the immediate family our intentions of keeping Quincy to himself at night. She thought there would be one way he could get around (or over) this barrier. I scoffed at her. He doesn't have claws...there's no way.

But, in fact, Leslie, you were right.

Saturday morning rolls around and at 8am, I heard a thwumpfff. I was already coming out of sleep (a deep, luxurious, full 8-hour sleep; simply unheard of) when I heard it. I lay still for a moment and whispered to Kyle, he did it again!!

The scratching started shhh....shhh.....shhh....shhhh.

"How did he do it?!" We both, in turn, asked. But we had no answer. Upon our investigation, both gates were securely latched. The only options were that he catapulted himself from the couch over them (which I just cannot imagine--not saying it couldn't happen, I just can't picture it), or, like Leslie foretold, he climbed them.

How did he do this? In my greasy, sleepy state, I was utterly confused.

While this is a very smart cat (more on that later), and a limber cat, he is not small by any stretch of the imagination. He's big-boned, very fluffy, and perhaps getting a bit portly. I don't know how the gates could support all of his weight enough for him to climb up and over. On the other hand, it didn't happen until 8am, so he spent the entire night contemplating how to outsmart the system. You know he did.

It was unbelievable.

So, again, I ask: What are we going to do?!

Here I am, very defeated.

Look at how Proud that Stinkin' Tail is?!