I'm sitting at my desk, working diligently, when two furry animals suddenly decide to stand on top of my work area, blocking out my screen. Oh yeah. They're my cats. Our bright idea of about six months ago: adopting sister kittens.
We thought that our kids should have pets before they completely grew up; that it would help them stop being self-centered and care about something smaller than themselves. In that we were right. What I didn't expect was that with their silent, mysterious presence and their baleful glares when their food bowl is empty, how much I have to stand around staring at the cats, trying to read their minds, asking them to lead me to whatever is wrong, like Rin Tin Tin or Lassie.
I finally realize what this all reminds me of. It reminds me of the worst days of being single; in particle, of what it was like being in a relationship with the very Bad Boyfriend I once had.
Like him, the cats don't talk much. I have to sit around trying to guess what they want, what mood they're in, try to read their minds. I never know if they like me so I wait for a little bit of parcelled out affection but end up wounded each time they run from me. They use me for food and shelter. As a matter of fact, I don't remember them ever paying for anything. And sometimes they spend the night cuddled with me and sometimes I just don't know where they are.
Basically, they're using me.
One big difference? Unlike the Bad Boyfriend, who I had delusions of marrying, I actually am married to these cats.
Ever notice human traits in your animal friends? Even bad ones? Cat lover or dog lover?
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I've had difficulties commenting on my own blog and other blogspot blogs for months, as well as other technical difficulties. Bear with me; it appears to be better now!
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Linda Pressman author of Looking Up: A Memoir of Sisters, Survivors and Skokie
Top Rated on Amazon and available there, on bn.com, local libraries and other retailers. See the tab above to read an excerpt!
I always think of cats as being like those girls in high school, the ones who pretended to be your friend to get what they wanted and then left you high and dry. At least cats have those cute purrs! =>
ReplyDeleteStacia, catty, right? :) If my cats would stop running from me and be more cuddly, I'd get the benefit of the purring!
ReplyDeleteomg Linda this is priceless. Especially for someone who has remained single and knows of what you speak. I just mentioned it to someone last night and wake to this. Cool :-)
ReplyDeleteThe paragraph starting "Like him,..." I love your writing.
Helene, Thanks for visiting, from one cat lover to another! They're unknowable but I love them anyway!
ReplyDeleteYes- my stupid dog might as well just be on of my children. She follows me around whining and begging for things and when I tell her to "go lie down" or whatever the command may be, she always does the bare minimum to appease me without actually following my directions. i.e. "Lindy, go get in your bed!!" and I point to the bed. She goes that way and lies down IN FRONT of her bed and looks at me. It's a challenge... she isn't doing EXACTLY what I asked but she knows I am too tired and defeated to force the issue.
ReplyDeleteJennifer, I thought for a minute your dog's name was "Linda!" :) and what a great comparison, the dog being the same as the kids. I'm sure, if I didn't have sneaky, self-centered cats, and had a dog instead, that might have occurred to me!
ReplyDeleteoooh how had I missed your BOOK before
ReplyDeleteoff to find it.
We didn't name the dog.. we adopted her and she came with the name. Zoe calls her "Linda" instead of "Lindy" because she is at that age where she thinks just slightly altering every word makes it hilarious.
ReplyDeleteMiz, good to see you! I've missed you and thank you for looking for my book! It's on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, libraries here and there, and a bunch of merchants I've never heard of, to be honest!
ReplyDeleteJennifer, see, I was right. The dog and I do have the same name. It's somewhat humiliating! Who ever heard of a dog named Linda? (Now I'll go feed my cat, "Jennifer"...)
ReplyDelete:)
There is never any doubt about what my cats want. They either want to eat (the vigil for their 5:00 supper starts at 3:30, with pacing and whining, followed by sweeping items off the kitchen counter if I don't move fast enough) or to go out. The whining to go out starts as soon as they have eaten. And there is "I want attention" behavior, which consists of 1. whining and 2. inserting the body between me and my book or the computer.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I have also learned the sound for "I want to and am about to throw up."
Class, wait a minute. So the reason why I have one totally obese cat is because I give them food all day long instead of setting a meal time? Oops. Of course, when they're out of food it's just like you said, jumping, running, stalking me, holding me hostage. I'm trying to recognize the sound for "I've decided to use the nice leather couch as my litter box." :(
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