Pretty Kitty Paw Prints

We have lovely cats. Sure, we've had a cat break a fish tank, knock down a box of breakable family heirlooms, knock a step ladder into our car and dent it, infest our house with fleas, make disgusting messes in our garage, etc., etc., etc., but we still love our cats. Yes, they're trouble, perhaps more trouble than they're worth, but still lovable.

Who wouldn't adore this sweet, cuddly, pretty kitty?

Or this one?

Tangent and Sine (there used to be a Co-sine---he had an unfortunate experience with antifreeze that resulted in a premature death) really are sweet cats, and they are so patient with Colter, but they do make messes!

Like this one...

We've had paw prints on our glass door for months. MONTHS, I tell you! I don't know how many times we've had company, and I have neglected to clean the window. I've just left it as a sign for all who enter our home, a big, muddy confession, "YES, I am a slob. A slob with cats." It's time to let go of the paw prints. I attacked them with Windex and paper towels and cleared the window of any evidence of a cat trying to convince its owners to let it in. The cleaning process took all of thirty seconds, so I'm really not sure why I've left the prints on the door for so long. Perhaps out of affection for the cats? Perhaps I'm lazy? Perhaps the two-year-old's fingerprints on the other side of the glass kept me from noticing the muddy paw prints? Whatever the reason the prints that tattooed my glass door for so long are gone now, and the glass is all sparkly clean.

Until the kid on the other side of the glass trying to figure out why his mommy is outside taking a picture of a glass door smears his chubby little fingers all over or starts kissing, licking, or otherwise marring the freshly cleaned glass that is.

Why can't things stay clean? Messes are just too exhausting.