There’s nothing like being the friend of a cat. Whether it’s your own cat that you care for, clean up after, groom, watch play, and just enjoy being around, or a relative’s or neighbor’s cat, the friendship is priceless.
Cats don’t trust easily. When you’re among those a cat trusts, it’s special indeed. When a cat shows you her belly, chooses to lounge next to you, or cur up in your lap, when she purrs and relaxes when you cradle her in your arms—that’s trust.
Yeah, it must be nice. When you rescue cats from
precarious and often dangerous situations, however, that trust is displayed a bit differently. Yeah, I can look at Olivia’s fluffy tummy, but don’t touch it. She’ll curl up in my lap, but there are definite no-nos, like getting too friendly with one of her paws, for example.
Sophie is 17 years old, who, at ten weeks, was plucked from the streets, and we still cannot pick her up with her permission, and hold her in our arms. She’ll curl up 
in our lap and let us pet her all over, but do not envelop her with your hands or she will explode.
The truth is that you will have a different level and type of relationship with each of your cats. One may accept all hands on her. She’ll ride around on your shoulder, and allow you to pose with her for a photograph. Others, such as Olivia and Sophie, have restrictions. They love us, but on their own terms. They call the shots.
What’s heartening is watching the friendship between 
Sophie, who has been with us through four other cats over 17 years, and Olivia, who is just a year old. It’s as if Sophie has been waiting to meet Olivia for years. She has never made up to one of our cats like she has Olivia. They don’t curl up in a tight ball together to sleep, but they have what appears to be a meaningful relationship with an occasional licky-face between them, frequent checking on one another, occasional frolicking together, and, well a sort of mutual respect between them. We’re so pleased that Sophie accepted the intruding kitten and that Olivia seems to honor and respect Sophie.
