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Why I Would be a Cat Lady

See? Not crazy at all!

I aspire to greatness. In fact, should my husband precede me in death, my great plan is to surround myself with every homeless cat in my neighborhood.

As I mentioned, my husband must die for me to claim this state of blissful coexistence with beasties more independent and opinionated than me.  More opinionated? For those who know me, they realize this is quite the accomplishment.

Each time I get a new kitten, I fall in love with the joy of kittenhood. My husband reminds me they grow up to be cats. Okay. What’s wrong with that?

I realized the other night that my “kitten” is five years old. I say it’s past time for a new one. An additional one, mind you. There’s no getting rid of cats once they’ve bonded with me.

Mustang: formerly a stray; currently a king
Mustang: formerly a stray; currently a king

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look at Mustang. Doesn’t he look comfortable? Well-fed? Happy to be part of the family?

He was a stray cat. I left food outside for him. At the time, we had only one cat. The hungry coyotes that live in the woods on the hills behind our house had thoughtlessly snatched two of my cats. One was barely more than a kitten.

Since that time, I decided any new cat would be an indoor cat. This isn’t my preference. I despise the mess and smell of a cat litter box. Truthfully, crying over missing cats outranks this minor disgust.

Mustang appeared on the back deck. He was young. The veterinarian said maybe only two years old when I took him in for vaccinations and neutering. Yes, I’m a responsible pet owner. The feral cat population makes me sad and it could be eliminated if every pet owner took the proper preventive measures.

My husband could not believe I would sit out on our back deck and talk in a soft voice to this stray while bringing him a handful of kibble. Day after day. Until he would let me pet him (the cat, not my hubby) while he was eating.

“We don’t need another cat.” He’s a real naysayer when it comes to the whole issue of cats and how many are “too many.” (See why he has to die before I can become a cat lady?)

Why I Love Cats

Cats are discerning. They aren’t desperate for affection like dogs. They don’t slobber all over you and beg for constant attention. (Actually, Mustang does drool when he purrs. Not the same as slobbering, though).

If a cat deigns to approach you, it’s because they find a redeeming quality in you. It could be just that they’re hungry and you have food. They don’t beg for it though; they demand it with haughty feline entitled-ness.  (I find this ugly in children but appealing in cats…hmmm.)

My most non-condemnatory friends have been cats. I’m spending all my time reading? Okay, they’ll curl up on the open book. Hint: you can pet me now.

I’m sobbing over something. They curl up beside me and purr. There’s nothing more soothing to me than a purring cat. It’s better than a back rub.

I want to be a cat lady because cats and I understand each other. We respect each other’s needs. Mostly, we offer each other plenty of space.

If I’m a cat lady, space may be at a premium. What is the minimum square footage of living space required per cat? Alright, only a select few will be invited inside. The others can descend like pigeons on an open bread bag whenever I head outdoors.

This is more scary than a hoard of cats! (Image from: thehindu.com)

6 thoughts on “Why I Would be a Cat Lady”

  1. Pingback: Why I would be a Cat Lady | Sharon Lee Hughson's World

  2. I couldn’t do it. I’ve yet to find an allergy med that works well enough to stave off the sneezing, itching and asthma attacks that most cats cause. More power to you, though! 😉

  3. I’m allergic to cats but I love them. Growing up my family would take in strays, clean them up and find them new homes. I currently have two that I adopted and I love them so much. I’m a proud cat lady lol 🙂

    1. My husband said he read the message behind this post as “I want to replace my husband with a house full of cats.”
      You didn’t get that out of it, did you?
      Cats are the best. In fact, my youngest one is walking on my keyboard and head butting the screen as I write this

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