Cats

I grew up with house cats.  When my sister wanted a kitten for her seventh birthday, a friend was happy to deliver TWO charming babies for the (free) price of one, a deal usually available with kittens.  Mike gifted me two kittens before we started our married life and we’ve had cats ever since.

Our three senior cats are every bit as important and dear to me as our dogs.  I write about the dogs often, since they share our travels and daily outdoor adventures, while the cats are strictly indoors.  My relationship with the cats is more nuanced, since the dogs want in on anything going on; the cats are selective.  They seek my company when I am trying to read, work on the computer, or fall asleep.  There are certain tasks they must “help” with – packing suitcases, wrapping gifts, changing sheets on a bed.  They enthusiastically participate, so the time to do the work doubles, but so does my enjoyment.   

There are undeniable advantages to cats as house pets.  They do not need to be walked outdoors; they can be left overnight alone for a single night with adequate food, water and a clean litterbox.  They are ideal companions to seniors; comfortable in small spaces like apartments and no barking to annoy the neighbors.  Yes, you must maintain an immaculate litter box, but is that any worse than picking up after your dog outdoors?  The feeling of contentment you get with a cat happily purring on your lap is like taking a tranquilizer without any side effects.  They are entertaining athletes, racing around after a milk jug ring, a laser pointer, or a housefly (sky raisins.)  They spend hours watching squirrels or birds out the windows, making their charming “prey” chirp.  

Some anthropologists believe cats were domesticated even before dogs.  Long periods of drought meant storage of grain was critically important to survival, and where there is grain, there will be rodents.  People noticed the wild felines attracted by the rodents did a good job of controlling the pests, and the relationship slowly morphed from happenstance to humans encouraging the cats to hang around.  The cats were safer from their predators and well-fed by associating with humans, and a mutually beneficial alliance was developed.

Nearly all the small farms early in our history had a resident colony of cats doing their ancient job of rodent reduction.  These cats were not primarily pets; they were workers.  As the number of smaller family farms decreased these free-roaming cats became regarded as pests by encroaching suburban neighbors, who were angry about digging in flowerbeds or bird killing.  In addition, something about cats elicts hatred and even extreme cruelty in some people.  

For many reasons, I am a staunch advocate of indoor-only cats.  An indoor/outdoor cat is a target for a large variety of predators including foxes, coyotes, free-roaming dogs, cat hating humans, owls and hawks. They get hit by cars, caught in traps, and contract parasites like worms and fleas.  Unvaccinated indoor/outdoor cats are susceptible to diseases including rabies and FELV.  They get in fights, especially if unsterilized; and contribute to the cat over-population problem. They may be resented by neighbors, and while most of us welcome rodent reduction, preying on songbirds saddens or enrages bird lovers.  (It needs to be acknowledged we humans attract unnaturally large flocks of birds close to the ground with feeders; these are like a fast-food drive-through for not only cats but also hawks.)  Most of us wouldn’t think of allowing our horse, cow, goat or dog to roam; cats aren’t any different.

Part of my strong opinion on this topic is the disappearance of my first pet cat, a beautiful black and white male.  He was not neutered; he was allowed outside on demand.  One night he failed to return home; he never came home again.  For many nights, after my parents were asleep, I’d sneak downstairs and look hopefully out on the front porch, heartbroken about his disappearance.   “They always come home, until they don’t.”  When we as a family learned better, we did better with the ownership responsibilities that come with cats including keeping them inside and sterilizing them.

Between my siblings, our two kids and our own three felines, we have 12 “family” cats.  They are all strictly indoors, many likely to live 15 years, or even longer, as a result.  Pictures of the latest cute cat antics e-mailed around are family glue.

The “house panthers” entertain and charm me every day.   Beeker, Spanky and Pissy Pants occupy a big area of my heart; I still miss the cats who went on before, and will be waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge.  I consider these cats good friends; I think they see me that way, too.

EARLY SPRING:  I was shocked to get a notice from the you-pick blueberry farm near me that they will start picking Memorial Day weekend.  This is three weeks earlier than normal!

I welcome commentary, alternative viewpoints or ideas at this e-mail address:  JanieTMartin@gmail.com

Janie Thibodeau Martin