Bearnard here!

Did I tell you that Mom was having the inside of the house painted this month? Well, let me tell you something: it was soooo terrible.

For years, Mom and the family had lived with something called popcorn on the walls of the foyer going up and down the stairs. Not only was it ugly, but it hurt if you accidentally rubbed against it. Mom had been waiting 25 years to get rid of it.

Mini with the popcorn wall

Well, finally, she did!

Mom sent the rest of the family to the beach so they wouldn’t have to deal with the mess. But, of course, Mom and the four furfamily members stayed home. Because apparently, we don’t count as family who deserves a beach vacation.

Mom had no idea that underneath the popcorn was wallpaper. Who puts wallpaper underneath popcorn?! Apparently, someone did that about 50 years ago.

So the wonderful crew from the painting company had to do much more than just paint. First, they had to remove the popcorn texture. Then they had to remove 50-year-old wallpaper glue from the walls. It was a HUGE job.

Where’s our living room?

The removal was gross!

Piles of gluey strips

We spent most of our time hiding in Mom’s upstairs office. But whenever we needed to go downstairs during the operation, Mom had to carry us one by one.

Hiding in Mom’s office all day

It was very distressing.

I got an extra dose of my anxiety medicine, and Mom gave Jolie something called Calming Chews. I am not entirely sure what all that stuff was supposed to calm, but I was pretty sure the house was still a disaster.

But the most distressing part was when we couldn’t find Mini Cooper.

The first night, everything was fine. We all watched TV together, and Mini sat on Mom’s lap like she always does.

Then, on Day Two, she disappeared.

When Mom couldn’t find her that night, she started to worry that one of the painters might have accidentally let her out the door. She searched everywhere. She looked under things, behind things, and in all the places where a cat might possibly hide.

Then she asked us to sniff her out.

And finally, around midnight, Mom heard a tiny meow coming from behind the kitchen cabinet.

Hole in the kitchen cabinet. Mini is actually there in the dark.

Yep.

Mini Cooper had discovered a hole next to the dishwasher and had squeezed herself between the cabinet and the wall.

And she wasn’t coming out.

Not for Mom.

Not for us.

Not even for food.

Mom put food and water inside the cabinet and even lay down on the kitchen floor, reaching her hand into the hole to try to convince Mini to eat a little.

Coaxing Mini to Eat

Success getting Mini to eat

Covering the cabinet to keep Mini safe

For the entire week, Mini hid in that hole.

But Mom knew she was sneaking out at night because there were mysterious deposits appearing in the downstairs litter box.

So at least we knew she was alive.

Finally, after all the painting was finished and V came home, Mini slowly decided that perhaps the house wasn’t going to collapse after all. She finally came out of her hiding place.

Party in the kitchen

Mini is finally out!

About four days later, Mom boarded up the hole. She is hoping Mini will find a less difficult hiding spot next time.

But you know cats.

They are excellent hiders when they want to be.

The walls look absolutely beautiful now, and Mom is very happy with them. Unfortunately, the family now has the enormous job of putting all the paintings, decorations, and knickknacks back where they belong.

Foyer without Popcorn

Mom says it will take months.

Months?!

Honestly, I think she needs to hire someone for that, too.

As for us, we are just really, really glad that the noise and terrible paint smells are finally gone.

Thank goodness!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go check on Mini Cooper.

Just to make sure she hasn’t found another hole.

I am so happy this is done!

Jolie exhausted by it all!

Mini back on her couch arm, where she should be.

Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤