KING OF ALL THE BOXES
September 15, 2012 3:56 PM Subscribe
Rufus the Cat had to get some painful ear drops and was feeling pretty stroppy about it so his owner decided to build him a magnificent cardboard box tower to lift his spirits.
Well, that was better than I expected, and gave me a big silly smile. Thanks!
posted by kinnakeet at 4:06 PM on September 15, 2012
posted by kinnakeet at 4:06 PM on September 15, 2012
I was sitting here watching this thinking, "that's an awful lot of work just for a pet," but then realized that while watching I've been sewing up a hole in my puppy's favorite stuffed frog toy for like the fourth time, so yeah.
Cute.
posted by phunniemee at 4:07 PM on September 15, 2012 [15 favorites]
Cute.
posted by phunniemee at 4:07 PM on September 15, 2012 [15 favorites]
Every once and awhile I realize I'm made of evil:
If I was this guy, I'd put a "In loving memory of Rufus 2001 - 2012" on the freeze-frame at the end.
posted by elwoodwiles at 4:09 PM on September 15, 2012 [14 favorites]
If I was this guy, I'd put a "In loving memory of Rufus 2001 - 2012" on the freeze-frame at the end.
posted by elwoodwiles at 4:09 PM on September 15, 2012 [14 favorites]
The attention we show ourselves displays our roots in the animal. The attention we show our animals demonstrates our aspirations to the divine.
posted by JHarris at 4:10 PM on September 15, 2012 [41 favorites]
posted by JHarris at 4:10 PM on September 15, 2012 [41 favorites]
I can't be the only one who expected Rufus to just jump down when he was placed on the top. After all, he IS a cat, and cat nature is to NEVER do what you want them to do. Even if it's enjoy a gift you built.
Good thing cats are so dang adorable...
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 4:15 PM on September 15, 2012 [5 favorites]
Good thing cats are so dang adorable...
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 4:15 PM on September 15, 2012 [5 favorites]
This is inspiring. I'm not sure that's a good thing (though my cats would love it).
Wonderful video - Rufus is lucky to have such a good helper monkey.
posted by rtha at 4:16 PM on September 15, 2012 [5 favorites]
Wonderful video - Rufus is lucky to have such a good helper monkey.
posted by rtha at 4:16 PM on September 15, 2012 [5 favorites]
Edmund totally has a box tower. My mother decided she was chucking all my crap from years 0-18, put it in her car and drove it to Minnesota. Even once we went through it all and made her not leave me with boxes of her stuff or my brother's stuff, I ended up with a tower behind the TV. Edmund uses it sleep on and to survey his domain.
posted by hoyland at 4:16 PM on September 15, 2012
posted by hoyland at 4:16 PM on September 15, 2012
Rufus has excellent timing as they plan the structure.
"What do you think?"
*Rufus walks off*
Good kitty.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 4:17 PM on September 15, 2012 [5 favorites]
"What do you think?"
*Rufus walks off*
Good kitty.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 4:17 PM on September 15, 2012 [5 favorites]
I would never get to see my cats ever again.
posted by FirstMateKate at 4:19 PM on September 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by FirstMateKate at 4:19 PM on September 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
I want to put Maru in there. I feel like it would trigger some huge quantum feline singularity or something.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:23 PM on September 15, 2012 [55 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:23 PM on September 15, 2012 [55 favorites]
thats what powers the TARDIS actually.
posted by The Whelk at 4:24 PM on September 15, 2012 [15 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 4:24 PM on September 15, 2012 [15 favorites]
This made me happy.
posted by Egg Shen at 4:28 PM on September 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Egg Shen at 4:28 PM on September 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
:3
posted by the theory of revolution at 4:30 PM on September 15, 2012
posted by the theory of revolution at 4:30 PM on September 15, 2012
I think my favorite part was actually the little headbutt Rufus gave him once put on top of the tower. He's a lucky cat, and you can tell that he is the dude's very best pal.
posted by FAMOUS MONSTER at 4:37 PM on September 15, 2012 [21 favorites]
posted by FAMOUS MONSTER at 4:37 PM on September 15, 2012 [21 favorites]
I know what I'm doing with the boxes from my move now...
posted by strixus at 4:42 PM on September 15, 2012
posted by strixus at 4:42 PM on September 15, 2012
We recently lost both of our cats and this video makes me a little weepy but very, very happy. Dude really loves his Rufus. Dude is all right by me. And the tower is magnifiscent. Kitty Michaels and Grey Cat got to experience something similar due to the stacks of comic book boxes in the apartment. As soon as I saw his design, I knew it was going to be a big hit with Rufus. That is one happy kitty at the end.
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:42 PM on September 15, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:42 PM on September 15, 2012 [4 favorites]
Did he secure it to the wall? My cat would tip that thing over pronto. Doesn't mean I won't try to put something together. That structure is awesome!
posted by carsonb at 4:43 PM on September 15, 2012
posted by carsonb at 4:43 PM on September 15, 2012
fake, the cat didn't jump in a box once while he was making it.
posted by desjardins at 5:07 PM on September 15, 2012 [21 favorites]
posted by desjardins at 5:07 PM on September 15, 2012 [21 favorites]
I saw photos of the end product online the other day and the video is much more impressive. Well done, sir. You are a credit to your charming accent.
posted by maryr at 5:10 PM on September 15, 2012
posted by maryr at 5:10 PM on September 15, 2012
I did much the same thing with those wire crate things and zip ties and carpet samples, but I didn't think to make an adorable video out of it.
That man loves his kitty cat. I love the little head bump that Rufus gives him!
posted by winna at 5:33 PM on September 15, 2012
That man loves his kitty cat. I love the little head bump that Rufus gives him!
posted by winna at 5:33 PM on September 15, 2012
The whole time, the guy reminded me of Mr Bean. (Not that there's anything wrong with that....)
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 5:43 PM on September 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 5:43 PM on September 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
Rufus is totally scoping out the hardest-to-reach corner of his castle to barf in.
posted by Mayor Curley at 5:47 PM on September 15, 2012 [21 favorites]
posted by Mayor Curley at 5:47 PM on September 15, 2012 [21 favorites]
Just FYI:
If you're going to do this, go to a grocery store and ask the dead-eyed kid stocking the shelves to grab you some potato chip boxes. They're exactly the right size, they're free, and the fronts punch right out.
posted by Sys Rq at 5:53 PM on September 15, 2012 [5 favorites]
If you're going to do this, go to a grocery store and ask the dead-eyed kid stocking the shelves to grab you some potato chip boxes. They're exactly the right size, they're free, and the fronts punch right out.
posted by Sys Rq at 5:53 PM on September 15, 2012 [5 favorites]
A cat's approval is a cruel, cruel thing to shackle your hopes to.
posted by bicyclefish at 5:58 PM on September 15, 2012 [25 favorites]
posted by bicyclefish at 5:58 PM on September 15, 2012 [25 favorites]
I just got done watching Chariots of Fire, and this was way better -- and much shorter!
posted by eugenen at 6:01 PM on September 15, 2012 [6 favorites]
posted by eugenen at 6:01 PM on September 15, 2012 [6 favorites]
See, this is why I claim that on the pet-owner-insanity scale, I am nearer the sane end than my friends think I am. I'm way too lazy to ever do this for my cats. Who would love it. Maybe they should go for a visit.
posted by jeather at 6:10 PM on September 15, 2012
posted by jeather at 6:10 PM on September 15, 2012
"Year five, day 17: I have manipulated my 'master' through a serious of passive-aggressive behaviors to build me a magnificent fortress.
On an unrelated note, my hearing seems to be improving."
posted by SpacemanStix at 6:54 PM on September 15, 2012 [46 favorites]
On an unrelated note, my hearing seems to be improving."
posted by SpacemanStix at 6:54 PM on September 15, 2012 [46 favorites]
fake, the cat didn't jump in a box once while he was making it.
But he did jump on top of boxes and nose them around a bit, and it was adorable.
posted by limeonaire at 6:55 PM on September 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
But he did jump on top of boxes and nose them around a bit, and it was adorable.
posted by limeonaire at 6:55 PM on September 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Good owner. *feeds treat*
posted by arcticseal at 7:06 PM on September 15, 2012
posted by arcticseal at 7:06 PM on September 15, 2012
This is cute. Also, the song is totally great — thought it was Rufus Wainwright that I hadn't heard yet at first.
posted by spitefulcrow at 7:21 PM on September 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by spitefulcrow at 7:21 PM on September 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Rufus (I once had an awesome cat named Rufus) has excellent staff.
posted by caryatid at 7:38 PM on September 15, 2012
posted by caryatid at 7:38 PM on September 15, 2012
Well of course he did this. After all, sweet orange boy cats are the best cats.
Miss you like crazy, Eddie.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 7:44 PM on September 15, 2012 [12 favorites]
Miss you like crazy, Eddie.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 7:44 PM on September 15, 2012 [12 favorites]
Congratulations, guy. Now Rufus has a good place to hide when you get back from work to deliver his liquid ear pain.
posted by valrus at 7:49 PM on September 15, 2012
posted by valrus at 7:49 PM on September 15, 2012
Have you ever noticed how many children's books have unmentioned cats in the illustrations? There's just a secret cat hanging out discretely in picture, and it's a little game you play with whomever you're reading the book to/whomever's reading it to you. We read the words, now we examine the illustration for context clues, now we find the omnipresent cat.
That's how I felt during most of the time lapse. "Do you see the kitty? Is he hiding? Wait, there he is!!!"
posted by Charity Garfein at 7:53 PM on September 15, 2012 [8 favorites]
That's how I felt during most of the time lapse. "Do you see the kitty? Is he hiding? Wait, there he is!!!"
posted by Charity Garfein at 7:53 PM on September 15, 2012 [8 favorites]
he could have saved himself a lot of time and effort and just half packed a suitcase, and pretended he was in a hurry.
posted by billyfleetwood at 8:07 PM on September 15, 2012 [14 favorites]
posted by billyfleetwood at 8:07 PM on September 15, 2012 [14 favorites]
After all, sweet orange boy cats are the best cats.
Eh, the Best Cat's brother is pretty okay, y'know, for someone else's cat.
posted by maryr at 8:11 PM on September 15, 2012
Eh, the Best Cat's brother is pretty okay, y'know, for someone else's cat.
posted by maryr at 8:11 PM on September 15, 2012
There's something endearing about men who like cats.
posted by KokuRyu at 8:13 PM on September 15, 2012 [13 favorites]
posted by KokuRyu at 8:13 PM on September 15, 2012 [13 favorites]
Jeez, what a waste. That's 40 boxes, and even in bulk, Banker's Boxes are like $1.50 each. And strapping tape is expensive. You can buy 48" x 96" cardboard sheets in 5 packs for $15. Let me sketch this out.. I figure that for the same money, with a mat knife and some hot glue, I could build a similar maze structure but like 4' x 8' x 8' feet, with about 200 compartments.
I am available for consulting on large scale cardboard architectural projects.
posted by charlie don't surf at 9:11 PM on September 15, 2012 [15 favorites]
I am available for consulting on large scale cardboard architectural projects.
posted by charlie don't surf at 9:11 PM on September 15, 2012 [15 favorites]
There's something endearing about men who like cats.
And he's just one guy with a fab pad and a cat. I AM SO READY TO GAYMARRY HIM NOW.
posted by PapaLobo at 9:25 PM on September 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
And he's just one guy with a fab pad and a cat. I AM SO READY TO GAYMARRY HIM NOW.
posted by PapaLobo at 9:25 PM on September 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
After all, sweet orange boy cats are the best cats.
Lentrohamsanin, you said it all.
I lubs me some orange tim kittehs.
I even lub me some orange tom kittehs, but dang! they are the toughest, smelliest, fightin'-ist, most scarred-up, torn-eared pirates in the world. Much better to change their minds from girls to squirrels.
posted by BlueHorse at 9:43 PM on September 15, 2012
Lentrohamsanin, you said it all.
I lubs me some orange tim kittehs.
I even lub me some orange tom kittehs, but dang! they are the toughest, smelliest, fightin'-ist, most scarred-up, torn-eared pirates in the world. Much better to change their minds from girls to squirrels.
posted by BlueHorse at 9:43 PM on September 15, 2012
Trumer Pils is an excellent beer.
posted by Shit Parade at 9:51 PM on September 15, 2012
posted by Shit Parade at 9:51 PM on September 15, 2012
I thought all orange cats were male? Did my wife lie to me?
posted by maxwelton at 10:12 PM on September 15, 2012
posted by maxwelton at 10:12 PM on September 15, 2012
I mean, specifically about that.
posted by maxwelton at 10:13 PM on September 15, 2012 [9 favorites]
posted by maxwelton at 10:13 PM on September 15, 2012 [9 favorites]
Orange cats are more likely to be boys, but it's not alwats the case. A boy cat needs one orange gene to be orange. A girl cat needs two. If she gets one, she's a calico. Incidentally, all calicos are girls, except in weird cases where they have an extra chromasomeand are xxy (rare).
posted by [insert clever name here] at 10:44 PM on September 15, 2012 [13 favorites]
posted by [insert clever name here] at 10:44 PM on September 15, 2012 [13 favorites]
I wanted to say I would marry this man, but PapaLobo beat me to him. (shakes fist)
posted by The otter lady at 11:40 PM on September 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by The otter lady at 11:40 PM on September 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
Orange cats are more likely to be boys, but it's not alwats the case.
True story. There is a big orange girl cat on the couch right here.
She also has a curly monkey tail. All kinds of recessive genes in this cat.
posted by louche mustachio at 12:05 AM on September 16, 2012 [4 favorites]
True story. There is a big orange girl cat on the couch right here.
She also has a curly monkey tail. All kinds of recessive genes in this cat.
posted by louche mustachio at 12:05 AM on September 16, 2012 [4 favorites]
louche mustachio, this is why you ended up with an orange cat with a curly monkey tail.
posted by essexjan at 1:12 AM on September 16, 2012 [8 favorites]
posted by essexjan at 1:12 AM on September 16, 2012 [8 favorites]
For the record, I flagged charlie don't surf's comment as "ENGINEER HERO OF THE MONTH."
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:30 AM on September 16, 2012
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:30 AM on September 16, 2012
Rufus has an excellent human. I wish them many happy years together.
posted by Purposeful Grimace at 3:07 AM on September 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Purposeful Grimace at 3:07 AM on September 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Obviously I approve of this video but I also really liked the music included. I'm listening to their bandcamp page now and it's quite mellow and friendly, nice for a Sunday morning hanging out with my own boycat Macrophage.
posted by shelleycat at 3:10 AM on September 16, 2012
posted by shelleycat at 3:10 AM on September 16, 2012
Nope.
That Signy cat just made my ilovecatonine levels go way higher than normal. I should go for a catup.
posted by ersatz at 3:27 AM on September 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
That Signy cat just made my ilovecatonine levels go way higher than normal. I should go for a catup.
posted by ersatz at 3:27 AM on September 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
He cut holes in 30 boxes with a paper cutter. Two holes per box, four cuts per hole, that's 240 cuts right there. Each accompanied by this terrible, terrible sound that gives me goosebumps all over my body just for thinking about it.
This man is a hero.
posted by hat_eater at 3:34 AM on September 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
This man is a hero.
posted by hat_eater at 3:34 AM on September 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
And I can count, just not very well.
posted by hat_eater at 3:36 AM on September 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by hat_eater at 3:36 AM on September 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Looks great Rufus, but watch out for the boxes labelled with powers of prime numbers.
posted by JanetLand at 5:01 AM on September 16, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by JanetLand at 5:01 AM on September 16, 2012 [3 favorites]
fake, the cat didn't jump in a box once while he was making it.
I had the same thought at first. Then it got to the part where the cat ignored the open boxes and tried to force his way into only the closed ones.
That's a real cat.
posted by DU at 5:04 AM on September 16, 2012 [8 favorites]
I had the same thought at first. Then it got to the part where the cat ignored the open boxes and tried to force his way into only the closed ones.
That's a real cat.
posted by DU at 5:04 AM on September 16, 2012 [8 favorites]
I figure that for the same money, with a mat knife and some hot glue, I could build a similar maze structure but like 4' x 8' x 8' feet, with about 200 compartments.
Hmm, yes, I would build it flat on the floor out of orthogonally interlocked strips (say 15") (like a large version of one of those storage boxes for Xmas decs), cut the maze holes, add some bracing, a front and a back, and then put it up on the wall.
posted by carter at 5:41 AM on September 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Hmm, yes, I would build it flat on the floor out of orthogonally interlocked strips (say 15") (like a large version of one of those storage boxes for Xmas decs), cut the maze holes, add some bracing, a front and a back, and then put it up on the wall.
posted by carter at 5:41 AM on September 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Hmm, yes, I would build it flat on the floor out of orthogonally interlocked strips (say 15") (like a large version of one of those storage boxes for Xmas decs), cut the maze holes, add some bracing, a front and a back, and then put it up on the wall.
Exactly. The problem is, you have to cut slots through the horizontally interlocked strips, to drop strips vertically to make the compartments. Come to think of it, forget the hot glue, I could make this self-bracing, and easily to disassemble/reassemble.
Yeah, I have built crazy large things out of cardboard.
posted by charlie don't surf at 6:51 AM on September 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Exactly. The problem is, you have to cut slots through the horizontally interlocked strips, to drop strips vertically to make the compartments. Come to think of it, forget the hot glue, I could make this self-bracing, and easily to disassemble/reassemble.
Yeah, I have built crazy large things out of cardboard.
posted by charlie don't surf at 6:51 AM on September 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
He's not doing it because he loves Rufus, but because he fears the cat. This other video of his is proof: Rufus is not to be fucked with.
posted by absalom at 8:16 AM on September 16, 2012 [8 favorites]
posted by absalom at 8:16 AM on September 16, 2012 [8 favorites]
I think the music pushes this uncomfortably close to the boundary between "I love my cat" and "my cat is my lover". But pretty cool!
posted by sevenyearlurk at 8:44 AM on September 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by sevenyearlurk at 8:44 AM on September 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
He's not doing it because he loves Rufus, but because he fears the cat. This other video of his is proof: Rufus is not to be fucked with.
posted by absalom at 8:16 AM on September 16 [1 favorite −] Favorite added! [!]
That was awesome, even more post worthy than the box tower video.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:17 AM on September 16, 2012
posted by absalom at 8:16 AM on September 16 [1 favorite −] Favorite added! [!]
That was awesome, even more post worthy than the box tower video.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:17 AM on September 16, 2012
Wow. Rufus Tower blows away Bonus City-1. A classic cardboard triumph. Much respect!
Doing painful things to cats that have benefits that they can't understand is brutal. I'm glad Rufus got some recompense.
posted by ignignokt at 3:08 PM on September 16, 2012
Doing painful things to cats that have benefits that they can't understand is brutal. I'm glad Rufus got some recompense.
posted by ignignokt at 3:08 PM on September 16, 2012
I think Rufus is a good name for a cat. Sure, the trend now is for names like Count Purrington, but I don't think cats should go though life with a name like Lord Snugglesworth if they are not actually member of the peerage. Now that he has a castle though, he should probably get a title. Something like Earl Of Snugglington. That would only be proper.
posted by Ad hominem at 4:23 PM on September 16, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Ad hominem at 4:23 PM on September 16, 2012 [2 favorites]
Ginger boys are the best kitties. And the mister has recently made them two new kitty condos as well as buying one new one and recovering the old one.
posted by deborah at 4:56 PM on September 16, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by deborah at 4:56 PM on September 16, 2012 [2 favorites]
louche mustachio, this is why you ended up with an orange cat with a curly monkey tail.
That explains everything but the wavy hair on her flanks and the barking.
posted by louche mustachio at 7:43 PM on September 16, 2012
That explains everything but the wavy hair on her flanks and the barking.
posted by louche mustachio at 7:43 PM on September 16, 2012
is it wrong that I want to take this guy's youtube videos, stitch them together into a short film concluding with the FPP video of him building the castle as the dramatic finish, give it a coy title, and submit it to some film festivals an understated, avant-garde take on "Garfield"?
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 7:04 AM on September 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 7:04 AM on September 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
That Signy cat just made my ilovecatonine levels go way higher than normal. I should go for a catup.
Unfortunately, ersatz, Signy passed away this past February. RIP Signy.
posted by LN at 10:02 AM on September 17, 2012
Unfortunately, ersatz, Signy passed away this past February. RIP Signy.
posted by LN at 10:02 AM on September 17, 2012
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