An Ode to the Feline Persuasion

 

As most know, I am a tremendous lover of animals, all types. In the pet department, I must admit, for the majority of my life I leaned toward dogs. Most of my life there has been a loyal dog that I have listed in the top 5 of my best friends.Anyone who has owned a loyal lifelong canine companion needs no explanation.

Max, our 14 year old Labrador Retriever, is suffering some of the pains of aging. Among them is a need to go outside to do his thing every couple hours. It is rather reminiscent of the first few months with a new baby and the nightly feedings. Only this baby walks over to my face and barks in it to wake me up.

So a night this past April seemed to be progressing as most our nights do, my sudden yank into consciousness and then fumbling to the side door to let Max, and of course Rosie, out to the yard. This night I was shocked into full alertness when I opened the door and the dogs went nuts barking at this, well in my stupor, it just looked like a hissing spitting ball of fur. I wrestled the dogs back in and maneuvered out without their "help". This little ball of fur was sitting on top of my car tire. She was this tiny starving calico kitten. Probably younger than most kittens are weaned. I held her and expected her to fight and be petrified, but instead she curled up in the crook of my arm, purred like a little engine and fell asleep. Needless to say my friends, reel me in -  I'm hooked. She is this sweet little calico whose features looked painted on. She was named Picassa.

Immediately I started mentally putting together the campaign to convince my hubby Picassa was a great addition to the family. Ed loves animals but he is a one on one type of pet relationship-guy. We were already one over quota in his book. But Ed knows my love of animals so he has learned to love having both dogs and tolerates the blowing tumbleweeds of hair. To make this even more challenging, in his list of great pet choices, cat was not way up there.. rather just above goat.

The minute I came in and told him about Picassa, honestly, he knew the eventual reality, but we did baby step her in. I first agreed to care for outside.

That lasted a little while but she looked so pitiful pressed against the window in the heat that Ed felt sorry for her too.

We started having her inside for a few hours at a time, but by the time the rains came, she was snugly claiming her nightly spot on our bed between us. It made the transition even easier when, come to find out, Rosie, our small dog, and Picassa were bound to be the most hilarious best friends. They play together, eat together and sleep together.

Max treats her more like an annoying gnat. Picassa seems unmoved by his occasional grumpy grunts, because I saw her use his head to step up on to the bed the other day.

Having Picassa has given me a new love for cats. Of course there is nothing like the loving devotion of a dog. They are so open and trusting when in the right environment. I know my dogs would follow me off a cliff.

Interestingly, it is the fact that my cat wouldn't that I love. She has this amazing sense of entitlement and righteousness that I adore. She will give me love and affection but on her terms and time. The other day she decided the new bag of cat food that was on the kitchen table looked better than her old food... so she tore it open and started eating.

Would my dogs jump at the chance to raid readily available food? In a heart beat! The difference is that if caught in the act my dog will give me the -please don't send me to the orphanage- look,

whilst Picassa gave me the - If you wan't to be useful , you will move my water up here for me. - look.

I love them all, but my long term outlook is no longer me being the crazy old dog lady on my street, I will be the crazy old dog and cat lady :)