The cat seldom interferes with other people’s rights. His intelligence keeps him from doing many of the fool things that complicate life. —Carl Van Vechten
Cats know it’s folly to infringe on others’ rights. Cats want their rights respected and know they have to respect the rights of others. They also don’t understand many of the prejudices that humans tend to harbor in their hearts. Cats are intelligent enough to know how wrong and stupid prejudice is.
Cats are smarter than dogs. You can’t get eight cats to pull a sled through snow. —Jeff Valdez
Cats don’t tend to like snow or water in any form. It’s not good for them as many learn when they are kittens. Perhaps that’s one reason why cats won’t pull any sleds through snow. Another reason is that they don’t feel the need to please anyone.
For a cat, a home is their territory. It is a place that is safe for them to hide from the dangers of the world. It’s also where they can find those they love. It’s a shelter from the bad weather. It’s a simple place which sometimes changes physical location, but the feelings about home itself never change.
Nuri adores Ali as much as I do. I can’t blame Nuri for doing so. Ali does take such good care of us cats that it’s hard not to love her as much as she loves us. Nuri loves it when Ali is around. Doesn’t matter what she’s doing just as long as she’s there. It’s a comfort to have her favorite human around.
So, when Ali stayed away for a night and part of the next day, Nuri fretted. She was beside herself. Ali never stayed away so long before. Sure there was plenty to eat and drink and the litter box was clean. But no Ali. It’s just not the same.
To make matters worse, Ali didn’t come in with her mom. It was just mom. So, Nuri did the most reasonable thing she could think to do at the time. She bolted outside to go look for her girl. Ali’s mom was scared and managed to catch Nuri to stop her. A few minutes later, Ali came inside with the mail. She had to listen to mom telling her what had just happened.
Ali picked up Nuri and hugged her. Both were happy and contented once again.
Until it happens another time. Nuri might have to come up with a good reason why Ali can’t leave and be away for so long. Perhaps it’s better that Nuri goes with Ali the next time she leaves for a long period of time.
Home is a place that is special to all of us including cats. I like home better when I have shelter with it too. I don’t like to get wet. I also want to feel safe and loved when at home. That’s what home should be and I’m glad I had that with my girl. Home with her was full of love. There was silliness and playfulness, but at least she never took it too far.
Home can change physical locations, but the feelings don’t always change. At least when our home changed physical locations, it was still safe and full of love because of her. I know she had a lot to do with it. Although she likes to think it was me just as much as her.
Home can be a place where family forms and stick together through thick and thin. It’s safe. It’s comforting. And most of all, it’s full of unconditional love.
Summer is the height of his highness’s annual hunting season, during which he goes on many thrilling and exciting expeditions around the house. Valiant and brave, every year Emperor Julius adds more insects and creepy-crawlies to his victory count. And usually it is a good year, giving him many stories that he can brag about by the fireplace come winter.
His highness has honed his hunting skills over the years, learning when exactly to leap at the glass windows. He knows how to tear down blinds at just the right moment, how to swat at dust bunnies with elegance, and how to stare into space at night in just the right way to scare the humans when they’re home alone.
His tastes have also evolved with time and experience. He now knows not to bother with most bugs, saving his energy for the juiciest and best. Dog can take care of the boring, plebeian daily fare…pill bugs, june bugs, house flies, the average spider just trying to mind its own business in a quiet corner. Ticks and mosquitoes are the humans’ department. The truly dangerous ones — wasps, though they buzz so delightfully — the humans can deal with too.
His highness saves his razor-sharp claws for just the right catch: the challenge, the speed, the temptation of none other than the fruit fly.
Stealthy and quiet, this adversary poses a delightful challenge. He has to stay on his toes, all four paws at the ready. Sight and precision is essential here, all the more so in dim evening light. He must leap, track, and wait, eyes dilated to their full murderous potential. Humans and Dog watch him in awe, amazed by his predatory dance. How he leaps! How he bounds! The fruit fly is just within his royal reach!
Sometimes the blinds come with him. Sometimes the curtain. Sometimes mementos on the mantle. But thankfully his Highness always walks away unscathed, ready to hunt another day.
As he curls up in his window-bed, he sharpens his claws and dreams of the next time. One day, the fruit fly will be his. Until then, he naps.
For a cat, play can be a good way to get exercise or even just learn how to respect themselves and others. Kittens play all the time whereas adult cats may or may not play as they age. I don’t mind playing with cats as I know it’s good for them as it is for me too.
Cats are a mysterious kind of folk. There is more passing in their minds than we are aware of. —Sir Walter Scott
I know they tend to think a lot. I don’t know what they think about. To me they seem to be meditating on life, the universe and everything. I can’t determine anything more specific than that.
Cats are a tonic, they are a laugh, they are a cuddle, they are at least pretty just about all of the time and beautiful some of the time. —Roger Caras
Cats certainly make life easy when it’s hard. They can be cute when they do all sorts of antics. They are affectionate and cuddly. They are the best companions I could ever ask for.
Lily is one of those cats who was born inside a house. She has never lived on the street. She rarely goes outside. In fact, she wouldn’t go out even when there was a screened in porch where she could be safe. She just wasn’t interested.
I suppose there’s nothing wrong with that. Being outside can be dangerous. There are too many humans who just can’t be trusted. It’s too easy to get into a fight with another cat. There are cars that don’t see cats. Death can chase us at every turn when we are outside.
So, when Lily got into her new home, she didn’t know what was going on. She stepped outside because her favorite human was outside too. Then her human went back inside the house. Lily panicked. She was outside by herself and didn’t know how to behave. She cried until her human opened the door to let her back in.
Lily hasn’t tried to go outside since them. The only time she goes out now is when her favorite human puts a leash on her and takes her out onto the patio. Lily doesn’t really like it even though she gets a good brushing.
It really is much safer inside. I used to be an indoor and outdoor cat. It’s not pleasant outside. So, if you can get a good human to take care of you, you don’t have to deal with the outside and all of its dangers. It’s just good to have a good home and not have to worry about getting wet in the rain or snow. Or mean dogs or humans who could hurt or even kill you.
Sir Socks Le Chat 