Cats Aren't as Aloof as People Think, Part Two

 

 

This is Zorro, sleeping under his Scottie dog blankie.  I always cover him with it, because he isn't the kind of cat who seems to know how to burrow under blankets.

 

Like I said in my previous post, cats are misunderstood.  Well, at least by people who've never had any or loved any.  They are amazing furry little people who will give back as much love and affection as you give them.  They will greet you at the door, snuggle and listen and look you in the eyes, hug you back (some of them), and be really wonderful companions.

 

Take, for instance, a cat we had named Baby.  He would snuggle up in my husband's arms every night when my husband was going to sleep.  He was a little angel. 

 

Then there was Lola.  She had issues, probably from being abused in a previous household, we think.  She took some time to adjust to all of the love she got here (and stop being afraid and scratching me), but even from the start she was with me all the time.  She didn't usually snuggle up with my husband, Dean, even though he's a great guy (as Baby knew), but Lola showed actual gratitude after Dean put together a kitty condo for her one night.  You know, one of those tall carpeted things with scratching posts on them.  My husband said that was the only time Lola actually came and sat on him.  She was smart enough to know that he had spent all that time putting that kitty condo together and she was so thankful that he did it.  I jokingly said to Dean, "Where's her gratitude for me?  I was the one who made you buy that thing!"  Of course, Lola didn't know that part.

 

Dino, our best cat baby ever (we will miss them all forever, but Dino so, so much) was just the most amazing cat we've ever seen.  You can see him with me in the header at the top of this blog.  As with most of the cats we've had, he was with me day and night, but he would do things that no other cat would do.  He was tiny and so, so sweet and would love to be held like a baby that you are burping, over my shoulder, when I was on the computer (typing with just one hand because I had to hold the "baby"), and would also love to dance with me in that same position.  He particularly loved Johnny Mathis and slower music like that, and would be somewhat horrified when I'd put on loud rock or pop music to exercise to.

 

Dino would sit on my chest and put his arms around my neck, hugging me, and often if I'd be trying to put him down so I could get up and go do something, he would reach further around my neck as if to say, "No, don't put me down yet."  So, I wouldn't put him down until I really had to.

 

Dino slept between my legs or on my side sometimes, even during some weeks or months when my interstitial cystitis was at its worst and was causing me to get up to go to the bathroom many, many times a night.  He just kept coming back by me, over and over. 

 

Dino loved constant and never-ending affection.  He would tilt his head down for me to kiss the top of it, and he loved it as much as I did.  He had the best scent to him, and I would fill my lungs with it (from his head or his tummy), despite my slight allergy to cats (which lessened over time because I forced it to).  Okay, I'd still get a bit red and itchy on my face, but who cares with love like that?

 

Dino also took his insulin injections like a little trooper for years.  No complaints, no squirming, nothing.  Just sweetly sitting while my husband gave the shot twice a day.  I wish those shots were magical shots that would've kept him alive for our lifetimes.

 

There are more cats to mention, but this post is getting too long already. 

 

Now back to Zorro, our current cat.  Also super-sweet.  As I said in my previous post, Zorro doesn't like it when we go out.  On Sunday we were out for 3 hours, and he wasn't happy about that.  Then on Monday, he was like this:

 

 

He just didn't want to let me go.  I kept trying to get up, but he kept pulling my arm towards him.  See what I mean?  Aloof my ass.  Please pardon my language.

 

Zorro has bad dreams once in a while, and he wakes up meowing.  I just talk sweetly to him and tell him that "it's okay, Mommy's here" over and over, then he puts his head back down on my ankle or knee and goes back into his peaceful sleep.  I don't know what his nightmares are about, but I'm glad that I can calm him when he has them.

 

So what I am saying is that cats generally are just amazing, they have the capacity for great affection in them, and we are grateful for each and every one of them that we've had.  Cats are wonderful!

 

 



Cats Aren't as Aloof as People Think

 

People often say that cats are aloof, independent, and not at all affectionate, but they don't know any of the cats that we've had through the years.  Every single one of them has turned into a loving, sweet cat who just wanted to be near us almost constantly.

 

Part of the reason is that I'm home a lot, so every cat has been used to constant attention, and they've loved it, too.  They want to be on me or near me almost all the time, day and night, when I'm sleeping or awake.  They even sit on the floor near me just to watch me wash dishes sometimes, just to be near their momma.

 

Some people think that cats don't even care if you are around or not, but none of our cats has ever liked it when we go out.  Our current cat, Zorro, gets really freaked out by it.  Yesterday he could tell when we were getting ready to go out, so he started meowing a lot.  We were only out for about 3 hours, but when we came home, he just yelled and yelled at us, even after being fed.  He can't help it, he just gets upset.

 

Actually, our cat Chrissy would barely come near us for several days after we came back from our honeymoon, which was only 5 days.  She wasn't alone while we were gone either.  She was at my  mother's house, where she had lived with me for years.  She was just upset because we hadn't been there (since she already loved my husband so much before we got married).  Of course, you can't explain to a cat that you'll be gone for just a few days.  They don't understand English (unless you say words they recognize, like "tuna" or "treat").

 

 

I love this photo, because it looks like Zorro is standing up, but he's lying down.

 

Anyway, the point is, people who don't love cats really just have no idea how great they can be.  They are constant bundles of love and snuggling, someone to talk to when you are up and can't sleep, someone to be near you when you are on the computer (warming your low back), someone to sit by your side while you draw or paint, someone to help you sleep (despite what sleep experts say). 

 

Cats are great.  That's all I can say.  Now kittens, on the other hand, they are just bananas.  I could tell you about those crazy days, but that's a story for another time. 

 

 

 

Our Cat Took Selfies For National Selfie Day

I was going through the photos on my phone when I noticed that our cat Zorro had taken some selfies on National Selfie Day, which was June 21st.  I didn't know that he even knew how to do that.  Well, his first one was a bit blurry...

 

 

...and in the next one he missed part of his face...

 

 

...and this one was a bit too dark...

 

 

 

...but then this one was pretty darn cute.

 

 

 

Then he got silly and did his best impersonation of Bowser from the Super Mario Brothers games:

 

 

 

 

See the resemblance?

 

Then Zorro took what is probably his favorite photo of all, because it showcases his gorgeous whiskers:

 

 

All in all, a good selfie day for Zorro.

 

 

Cozy Kitty House That is so Easy to Make

I know that cats like to be warm, but I get overheated easily (all year round), so have to keep the house cool, especially when I'm sleeping.

When I am sleeping with our kitty Zorro, I always cover him with his own blankie, and if he moves, I wake up and re-cover him most of the time.  We turn the heat up (or A/C down) when we leave, but when we are home Zorro is usually on me keeping himself warm.

You know, though, sometimes cats just want to be off by themselves, to get that deep, restorative sleep.  His room always seemed too cold, especially in winter.  My husband sealed up the window (leaving a big viewing hole for Zorro), but it was still chilly.

Then I saw in a magazine how you could make a cozy kitty house out of a box and an old T-shirt.  You just pull the T-shirt over the box and the neck hole of the T-shirt is where the cat goes in and out.  I actually used a mock turtleneck that was our late aunt's.  It wasn't good enough to donate to a thrift store charity because it had stains on it, so it was good to be able to use it for this and not just have to throw it away:

 

I just wrapped the bottom of the turtleneck and the sleeves underneath and taped it, stuck a nice seat cushion inside and it was ready for Zorro to use.  He loved it right away.  The instructions in the magazine didn't say this, but it is sort of too light and can easily tip over when the cat is going in or out.  So, what I did was tape a heavy book to the top of the kitty house.  It looks crummier now, but it's more stable.  What would be even better would be to put a heavy old book under the cushion or use something else that is flat and heavy underneath.

 

Zorro really loves his cozy kitty house.  He still likes being near me (even prefers me to the morning sun in his room, most of the time), but sometimes he just really loves to get away, rest, be away from the talking and other noise.  I think it gets really warm and toasty in there from his body heat and he likes it a lot.  It's super-easy to make and doesn't cost anything, so it's worth trying!  I hope you and your cat like it as much as we do if you try it!