Let it be known that, just like John on the old Ally McBeal show, who liked a “fresh bowl,” my cat Annie (aka Her Highness) likes a “fresh box.”

Those of you who are familiar with cats will probably understand this. After looking around to make sure she has no audience…

… and checking to see that her litter box is “clean,” she deigns to enter her holy toilette. Shortly thereafter, scratching noises are heard. Much scratching. Later, if you peek inside, you will see a HUGE mountain of litter. My Annie shovels up a nice high mountain to hide her doings.

Afterward, I – her slave owner companion – am duty-bound to clean her box. This involves sifting out the solids and smoothing the surface once again, maybe adding some litter, to make it look all new and pristine…

…and all the while she observes…

…just keeping an eye on her property.

Oh! But in no time at all, she’s back in there! I told you, she likes a fresh box! I feel like I’m doing this gift box for her:

So finally I check it again – and there’s another MOUNTAIN!!! How can this be, I wonder! There was  a mountain just before! I go check it out with my handy-dandy pooper-scooper, and…

Oh, for heaven’s sake! She sure fooled me! Way under this – this Mount Everest, was a tiny round lump about 1 inch in diameter, no more than an inch high!

ANNIE RULES OUR ROOST! MEOW!