Winfield playing with a strawberry
I’ve begun to realize that cats come with baggage. Think about it, have you ever had a cat for which you didn’t have to make concessions? At the very least you’ve indulged them, made compromises, and, in some cases, surrendered something—your comfort as kitty sits in your lap while you type; your peace of mind as you worry about a health issue or behavioral issues; an area of your home where their bed, cat tree, toys now clutter; your dreams or having a pristine, odor-free home; your favorite chair…
How many of you have installed a kitty door for cats who insist on visiting the out of doors, built a cat tree or rearranged your furniture altogether to accommodate a cat? You’ve probably lost sleep over a cat—because she’s nocturnal and wants to play all night, she’s ill and you’re worried, or she’s taking up too much space on your bed. Some cats interfere with their person’s meals. Some kitties are more passionate about food than others and simply demand bites of your macaroni and cheese, chicken sandwich, morning egg meal, etc.
Remember when you used to vacuum once a week and wear your favorite black slacks? 
That quickly changes once you add a cat to the household.
Different cats have different demands. So if you’ve been kind enough to adopt siblings or you’ve collected cats for whatever reason, you might be faced with a variety of challenges. Some of the cats eat plants while others claw furniture. While one cat darts for the door every time anyone opens it, others might chew the cords off your pull blinds. Yes, I had a cat who did that. A neighbor has a cat who eats rubber bands and plastic or rubber cords, such as those that connect the components of her computer.
We have installed kitty perches on window sills for our cats, we’ve done away with all
Lily Has Spring Fever
ribbon and bows in our home because we have a cat who eats them—dangerous! We bought a water fountain for Lily because she loves drinking running water and we didn’t want her drinking from the bathtub after we had a softwater unit installed. I no longer enjoy a bouquet of flowers in my home. I don’t think I need to explain. If I do cut a particularly beautiful rose, I carry the vase with me from room to room so I can keep an eye on it. We’ve made a cover for my keyboard from a box lid off. I don’t think I need to explain the reason for that, either. And we use only valances at our windows—and blinds, of course. No more drapes. I never leave a hanger where a cat can get it. Yes, a coat hanger. I know of a kitten who got caught up in one and strangled. And I had a cat swallow a needle once. Thankfully, she survived once we realized what had happened and the vet removed it.
The Party is Over
It’s interesting how these concessions we make become a part of our life. We take them for granted. We’re surprised when women guests ask why we put their purse in a closet—duh, because the cat steals things. Oh yes, and I caution my overnight guests not to leave a glass of water next to their bed, unless they plan to close the door with the cats on the outside. Lily will drink from any vessel if it is wide enough for her cute little face. Winfield, however, could drink water from any glass because he drank with his paw—dip it in, lick the water off; dip it in, lick the water off.
There are as many ways we accommodate cats as there are cats. My readers (and I) would love to hear some of your stories. PLFry620@yahoo.com. Or leave a comment here.
