You know that old cliché about spending time, effort and money on a fancy cat bed, only to have the little sod prefer the cardboard box that packaged the bed? Over the years Louis Catorze has been lucky enough to receive many fabulous toys from various friends, pilgrims and well-wishers. However, his new favourite thing is, erm, a teabag.

In the past, when I’ve made a pot of teapigs Calm tea, Catorze’s head has spun around like Regan in The Exorcist (younger followers: ask your grandparents) as he’s tried to find the source of the smell. The tea contains valerian, which is absolutely vile to the human nose but cats can’t resist it. To them, it’s like Chanel No.5 and crystal meth combined.

A few days ago, when I made another pot of Calm tea, he came and creepy-stared by my feet. He didn’t want food. He wanted valerian.

This isn’t the greatest picture as Catorze was moving, but you can see the most important elements: the teabag, the chat noir shape and, of course, the trademark fang. And, no, we did not make tea with the teabag afterwards, although I know many cat freaks who would (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE).

Cat toys: why bother? No, seriously … why?
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36 responses to “Le thé royal”

  1. catladymac avatar
    catladymac

    Is it Valerian that “smells like feet” ?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. iamthesunking avatar
      iamthesunking

      Not just feet but the worst feet! Feet that have stepped in poo!

      Like

  2. Kate Crimmins avatar

    Same here except I don’t make tea. Boxes, papers (especially ones I want to keep) and miscellaneous non-toys are always a hit.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. iamthesunking avatar
      iamthesunking

      Haha, and do they ignore their fancy toys in favour of these things?

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Doug Thomas avatar

    LOL! Ye, but the boiling water would handle any cat cooties, eh? Waste not, want not.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. iamthesunking avatar
      iamthesunking

      It would, but still! The idea of Catorze’s spit on the teabag, boiled or not, would be too much for me!

      Like

      1. Doug Thomas avatar

        LOL! I guess that would be an issue with me if that possibility occurred to me.

        Liked by 2 people

    1. iamthesunking avatar
      iamthesunking

      You’d make tea with it afterwards?

      Like

      1. Doug Thomas avatar

        Maybe not….

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Raven avatar
    Raven

    Valerian smells like nasty gym socks to us but they seem to love it. Its effective but it stinks! Valerian gave us valium. Imagine how the world would smell if the drug carried the same stinky side effect as the herb. 🤢

    Liked by 2 people

    1. iamthesunking avatar
      iamthesunking

      I remember putting some valerian root into my basket in a health food shop, and repeatedly checking under my shoes because I thought I’d stepped in something!

      Liked by 1 person

  5. carol hopkins avatar

    Wow! I did not know this – very interesting. Cats sure can keep us on our toes.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. iamthesunking avatar
      iamthesunking

      Yes, it’s the worst smell in the world, but they love it!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. carol hopkins avatar

        I’ve never had that kind of tea so I will just take your word for it. LOL

        Liked by 1 person

        1. iamthesunking avatar
          iamthesunking

          It’s worth buying some, just to see the look on their faces! 🤣🤣🤣

          Liked by 1 person

  6. alicephilippa avatar
    alicephilippa

    Valerian mixed with catnip equals heroin for cats. Me? I’ll just stick with valium.

    As relaxed as I am about cats’ tongues on the butter for example, even I won’t make tea with a teabag that’s been dragged around the floor and drooled on. I’ll leave that to others.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. iamthesunking avatar
      iamthesunking

      Hang on … what? You’d eat butter that’s been licked by cats?

      Like

      1. alicephilippa avatar
        alicephilippa

        Been doing it since the 1960s, so not something I ever learnt to be squeamish about.

        Liked by 2 people

        1. iamthesunking avatar
          iamthesunking

          Nooooooo!

          Like

  7. mmechapeau avatar

    Timon hardly ever toys inside. I will offer him a teabag as soon as he is back
    Right now, he is outside, busy with ICB.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. iamthesunking avatar
      iamthesunking

      Please video his reaction!

      Like

  8. fatdormousef avatar

    Jasper will sit by our (usually left open) tea bag box and fish out tea bags to play with. I have never actually checked if he chooses specific types of teabag from the variety within. I should look next time he grabs one.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. iamthesunking avatar
      iamthesunking

      Oh, there’s a mixed variety in the box? I’m interested to know what he picks!

      Like

  9. Dr. CaSo avatar

    I have to share my Haagen Dazs ice cream bar with Miss Penny (only the vanilla part, not the chocolate) otherwise I’d be dead and eaten (by her) by now, she ferocious! I didn’t know about Valerian but I’ll check in the tea aisle next time, lol!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. iamthesunking avatar
      iamthesunking

      She will go crazy for it!

      Like

  10. cat9984 avatar

    Maybe he wanted to calm down.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. iamthesunking avatar
      iamthesunking

      His first sensible decision!

      Liked by 1 person

  11. […] was I saying in my last-but-one post? Something about spending money on a fancy cat bed, only to have the little sod prefer the […]

    Like

  12. Aspasía S. Bissas avatar

    Glad to be part of the “crazy about cats but not so crazy that I make tea out of their toys/drugs” club 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. iamthesunking avatar
      iamthesunking

      Ha! Valerian tea isn’t especial nice. It serves a purpose and that’s it. 😐

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Aspasía S. Bissas avatar

        This is why I’m not much of a fan of medicinal teas! Still, if it works it might be worth it. Just not after the cat’s been at it 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

        1. iamthesunking avatar
          iamthesunking

          Ugh, deffo not after it’s been I. Catorzian paws!

          Liked by 1 person

          1. Aspasía S. Bissas avatar

            Cat paws are adorable, but we all know where they’ve been…

            Like

            1. iamthesunking avatar
              iamthesunking

              We do! 🤢🤢🤢

              Liked by 1 person

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