I’ve been meaning for ages to write a random post about cats. I love cats, I always have done. Don’t get me wrong, I really like dogs too, but there’s something about cats… Perhaps it’s the extraordinarily supple way they move, or their brilliant gem-like eyes, blinking so inscrutably. Of course, it’s not completely impossible to work out what a cat’s thinking, their body language can be perfectly clear.
I always feel that when the cat settles in my lap, or drapes his boneless little self over my ankles that I’ve been blessed and flattered by his friendship. It’s as if he’s made the considered choice to be with me, not quite the same as a dog’s faithful devotion.
I can’t imagine life without a feline companion. Little Merlin (so named because he’s a great enchanter) keeps me company as I write. He never gets bored. It’s funny, we had dogs when I was a kid - a dachshund, then a cocker spaniel - but once I had a place of my own, it was Burmese cats. Burmese are worth a whole post of their own. I’ll save that one for another time!
There’s something still wild about even the most domesticated puss. He walks on his wild lone. No wonder cats were so revered by the ancient Egyptians. I think that’s part of the attraction for me. Remember Rudyard Kipling’s story, The Cat Who Walked By Himself?
This is the picture of the Cat that Walked by Himself, walking by his wild lone through the Wet Wild Woods and waving his wild tail.
And yes, I have friends who simply cannot bear cats. That’s not a problem, except that whenever they come over, the dratted felines head straight for them! Apparently, cat etiquette requires that you don’t meet a stranger’s eyes. Clicking your fingers and calling, “Here, kitty, kitty!” is simply beyond the pale! People who don’t like cats avoid looking at them directly, thereby demonstrating their beautiful manners. Worth a friendly greeting. Oh dear…
These pictures, BTW, are from the LOLCATS site, greatly beloved of my DD. I find the cute spelling a bit twee, but then I’m a grumpy old pedant, so I’ll let it ride. But some of the captions are really funny. If you haven’t read the classic Dune by Frank Herbert, you may not “get” this one, but I did laugh out loud when I saw it.
The only other thing I will say how much I dearly wish people would neuter their cats. Just this week, there was a story in the local paper saying that 80% of cats and kittens in shelters here are destroyed. And keep them in at night too - preserves wildlife and saves on dead cats on the road.
I’ll leave you with this Youtube video. Do you think this cat’s human might be a crap writer? Everyone’s a critic! *chuckle*
Are cats an important part of your life? Do you truly think having a pet helps your health? I do! Just stroking Merlin calms me down. He shows me how to live in the moment.
Or do you prefer dogs? Do you think gender has anything to do with it, with more men than women preferring dogs and vice versa? Perhaps cats give you the screaming habdabs. That’s okay, tell us about it!
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I love cats and dogs. My family doesn’t have pets… well, we had a much-beloved rabbit, but not a cat or dog. Still, I did a lot of pet-sitting when I was a kid for the neighbors.
I would like to get a cat when I get my own place, because I think they’d make good conpanions, but I can’t have one now that I’m in college.
Denise, I have two cats, Misha and Hunter, and just so know that I they are a big part of my life, my sanity! LOL. Really, they know when I’m in pain or sick, they’ll stick right with me. I didn’t have cats when growing up because my mom was allergic to so much that we had a dog a short time but had to give him to an aunt because my mom couldn’t have them around. I do love dogs but I find so much more comfort with my cats. I do find myself being able to calm when upset by petting my cat and thinking positively. Believe it, but they sleep on my feet often, I think they know they are cold! LOL. I shall go check out that link for the story! I’ve been to that site with the funny captions with the cats but needed the link so thanks again, I’m still laughing with that copy machine! Hunter does fetch a stick with furs on the end, like a dog would. He sleeps with it too. Its so cute! Then of course he loves the toilet paper! Thanks for that chat on cats. Loved sharing about mine and reading about yours!
Hi,
I have always loved cats. My first book was The Little Lost Kitten. I have a 20 year old companion named Jon. He is a tuxedo kitty and quite the gentleman. Always had a cat growng up. My mom hates them but she loved me enough to let me have one. His name was Prince and he lived seventeen years. He came to live with me when I was five. Cats are wonderful companions.
When I was a kid we had 13 ‘Tommy’s. Tommy was a black cat with four white paws and a small white button under his chin. We had 13 because my mum was a lousy driver and kept running over them in the driveway. (You’d think she’d start checking for cats near the car after the first couple, wouldn’t you.) She’d replace the poor cat with one that looked the same, hoping we wouldn’t notice the difference. Of course we did - that’s how I know there were 13 of them before we moved into different colours.
My daughter, Lauren, is a cat person. She simply cannot conceive how anyone could possibly be happy without a cat in their life. Cats help her maintain emotional balance and she’s absolutely devastated whenever one of hers dies. After her dog died, she decided she needed another cat to cuddle. Her yard wasn’t fenced so she couldn’t get another dog, so cat it was. We get our pets from the local animal shelter - save a life and all that. The cats sold there are already neutered so that saves a lot of trouble. (I agree with you - why wouldn’t you have your pet neutered? The only reason not to is if you’re a professional breeder.)
We went looking for a mature cat because my daughter didn’t have time to train a kitten. I found the perfect cat - a grey tabby female, 6 months old. She looked like a ‘Bridgit’ so I named her on the spot. Lauren of course kept drifting to the kitten section and she ended up choosing a sweet black and white kitten I called ‘Roger’. Of course, since I’d been so set on her getting Bridgit, Lauren couldn’t leave her behind, so she let me buy Roger for her birthday and she got Bridgit for me so I wouldn’t be lonely. The fact that I’d had 12 months pet free since she’d left home and hadn’t faded away didn’t matter - I didn’t have a cat so something was missing from my life.
Of course, Lauren was right. Bridgit is the perfect cat for me. She’s trained us beautifully and we fulfil her needs just the way she wants us to. Unfortunately for Lauren, sweet Roger died early one morning only about 18 months after she got him. She found him in the neighbour’s garden with not a mark on him.
JC<,it’s illegal to keep rabbits as pets in Australia, or it is where I live. So I have no idea about bunnies. Are they intelligent, affectionate? Can you house train them?
Caffey, it was lovely to hear about the part your cats play in your life.
They sound beautiful. I always feel so sorry for people who have allergies to animals, especially if they love them. I have a friend like that. Cats set off her asthma.
Oh, Clynax, that’s wonderful! 20 years old! And you know, if you asked your puss, I’m sure he’d be so glad to have such a good life with you. I had an old Burmese boy who lived to 19. It’s almost ten years ago that he went and the thought of it still bring tears to my eyes. He was my friend, you know?
I love those tuxedo cats, they look so smart and dignified. I’ve always thought if I had one, I’d call him Jeeves.
Thirteen, Elaine?
Thirteen?
Your Bridgit is such a beautiful cat, and yes, she is right for you. She’s so feminine and well, together. It’s odd about poor Roger. Mind you, we had a little ginger called Fudge who was killed on the road one night. I called and called, but she snuck out after dinner and wouldn’t come back in. *sigh* Anyway, she didn’t have a mark on her. Wouldn’t have felt a thing. Same thing could have happened to Roger and someone picked him up off the road. Maybe?
I love cats and have three. Harry is a tuxedo kitty who’s almost 4 years old and my lovey fat cat. Latte is a tortoiseshell that’s 3 years old and she’s my talker. I just caught a very skinny stray that has been hanging around my house for about two months. I named him Sebastian, he’s about 6 months old and he follows “mommy” around every where. If I’m in another room he walks around the house meowing until I answer him and he comes to me. He sleeps on my bed with me too. My other kitties don’t like him much yet, but they will soon enough. I couldn’t not save him and take him in because out there he has a hard life. Poor thing has scars from being attacked by a dog, owl or coyote (I’m not sure which because we have all three around), so I had to do something. Funny thing is that it took one day for him to stay in the house all night. The first night he stayed in for a few hours then left and the next night when he came back he stayed in all night.
I should mention that I have a dog too, but he’s more my mom’s. I’m just the one he comes to when she’s not around. LOL! His name is Chance and he’s a Black Lab mix. He’s also deathly afraid of thunderstorms and lightning. Oh, and have I mentioned that I live in the lightning capital of the world that also gets hurricanes (Florida)? You can probably imagine how he is when it rains, but we love him so we sit and comfort him.
Dani, I’d say Sebastian knows a good thing when he’s onto it.
Know what you mean about talking. One of mine used to walk in and go, “Prrrrrt?” Which meant, “Where are you?” I’d call out from another room, “In here!” A few seconds later, his Lordship would pad in and come for a stroke. He was a lovely boy.
And yes, our dog is terrified of thunder, which means she’s scared of the rain because the big scary noises may not be far behind. *sigh* Poor thing. She just shakes with fear and if she could climb down our throats she would.
Hi again,
I’m a dog person. Always have been. We have cats that I inherited or were strays but the dogs rule. I prefer male dogs myself, however, the best dog I have ever had was female & I had her from the age of 9 till I was 26. Through my Dad passing, meeting & marrying hubby, college, & so many other of life’s moments. She traveled with me, then later us, everywhere until the last couple of years. Still miss her!
Again, have a great weekend,
Susan B.
They’re such wonderful life companions, Susan. My sympathies on the loss of your doggy friend. I had a dear old Burmese boy who died purring in my lap at 19. (The vet came to the house to put him to sleep. Wasn’t that nice?) Almost ten years ago and I still miss my friend.
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