Friday, March 25, 2005

Kitty Love

Sharing our home with an animal once more has proved quite delightful. When you’re used to having an animal around the house, there’s a real void felt when there is none. Our kitty has endeared himself to each of us. He’s about seven months old now and even though he’s only been with us for three of them, it’s difficult to imagine life without him. How quickly these small creatures entwine themselves around our hearts.

When my son caught wind of the notion that we were looking for a cat rather than a dog, he was less than enthusiastic. "A cat!? What can you do with a cat!?", was his reaction. At this point, I would say this very same son enjoys the cat more than any of us. This is the first time in his life we’ve brought a new pet into the house and he’s finally reached that age of understanding that you must let the animal come to you; not chase it around and try to catch it in attempt to establish a bonding friendship. How you approach and treat an animal from the beginning of its life with you is extremely important.

Finn, short for Finnegan, is a very affectionate cat. People are often quick to say that cats are incapable of loyalty and showing affection. An appreciator of the species knows this isn’t true. I’ve never experienced a "kissing kitty" before but we’ve got one now. It’s so pleasant to have a little cat curled up beside me in bed. When 4:30 am or thereabouts rolls around and he decides it’s time to wake up and begin his first wild kitty fit of the day, I simply gather him up and gently boot him out the door, closing it behind him. Problem solved.

He’s developed into quite the acrobatic kitty as well. When my son plays with him with dangling feathery toys, the flying leaps he takes are reminiscent of a ballet dancer. I call him Nureyev at times such as these; but not many people probably recall this exquisite dancer’s expansive, graceful leaps. I never get tired of watching him when he’s in high gear.

I’m so glad we brought him into our lives. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the simple pleasure of having a soft, purring cat in your lap to pet makes you feel good, better than you did before he was there. I suspect it’s a symbiotic relationship because the cat seems to enjoy it just as much.

Our kitty is much more handsome than this; perhaps this poor creature has had a rough night.  This graphic cracks me up and I must give credit to the individual's journal in which I discovered this:  http://journals.aol.com/chickeebaby75/MartinasWorld

Check it out; her daughter is gorgeous!

 

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Our "boys" are now about six months old.  Getting huge and either in high  "destructo" mode or sleeping like the dead.  They are indeed endearing.  It doesn't take long for them to get so embedded into your heart that you are wondering how you got along without them.  Lisa  :-]