Just a cat?

With the recent loss of my beloved Pagan, I have dreaded hearing the words I heard when I lost my cat Caspian by people who didn't understand my grief. "But it's just a cat. You can get another one."

I'm happy to say that, this time around, everyone has been very understanding and respectful of how much his loss hurts me.

But I find my mind going back to those words. Should I feel guilty for loving my cat so much? For grieving so completely?

No, I shouldn't, and here's why.

Just a Cat

He's just a cat,

But he welcomes me home each day,

His soft fur and warm cuddles

Warm my heart and center my thoughts.

He's just a cat,

But he follows me into my children's room 

When I need to wake them in the morning,

Waking them with gentle purring and soft head nudges.

He's just a cat,

But when my son comes home from school

Crying that he has no friends,

Our cat gives him comfort and friendship.

He's just a cat,

But when my daughter feels so stressed

That she makes herself sick,

He relaxes her with his soft fur and gentle purring.

He's just a cat,

But when any of us are sad,

He makes us laugh
With his playful antics and silly obsessions.

He's just a cat,

But every day, he makes it clear that he loves me.

He chats with me with delightful purr-meows,

And he sticks by my side.

He's not just a cat.
He was never just a cat.

He is family.

He is a best friend.

He is loved.

And he loves back.

Tweet

Happy New Year 2011!

Pagan was in a playful mood today. I think he just wanted to wish everyone a happy new year!





Tweet

Merry Christmas!

Here's to hoping your Christmas is full of magic and love and laughter, and of course, lots of kitty cuddles too!





This video is a bit dark and I didn't hold the camcorder very steady, but you can still get an idea from it what our beloved cat Pagan has been like with our Christmas tree and the ornaments on it.




Tweet

Hobbes & Kittn

submitted by A. B. Sue

Hobbes was always a cautious cat, not nervous, but never rushing into anything. Kitn, on the other hand, was forever dashing into everything new. When I brought home a large paper bag one day, I thought they might like to play with it, as our cats always had when I was a child. I set the bag on the floor, lying on its side with its square bottom holding it in position so that it looked like a little cave. Hobbes saw it first. With his typical caution, he approached slowly, sniffing and looking his way up to the bag's mouth. Just as he put his head in, Kitn came running into the kitchen and jumped on the closed end of the bag. The bag collapsed with a crinkle of paper and a whoosh of air. Hobbes ran from the room, terrified Kitn following, their feet scrabbling madly on the linoleum. The dog barked and tried to chase them, her feet also slipping on the floor. I fell on the floor laughing. That brief minute of pandemonium convinced all of my pets to avoid paper bags. Kitn, however, loved plastic grocery bags. She liked to stick her head through the handles and then run around with the bag popping and slapping behind her. I think the noise was pleasing to her, but it sure startled some of my guests.

Geeks & Cats

Introduction To The Kitty's Corner

All my life, I have always had a cat living with me. They are my favorite pet to own, and of all the pets I have owned in my lifetime, it was a cat that completely stole my heart. When my beloved cat Caspian died, I was heartbroken. But then my husband and I spent an evening recalling all of the good times with him and all of the times he made us laugh with his antics. It was surprisingly cathartic. That's when the idea for this blog began to form in my mind. This is a place to post stories of ours (and your) cats. What heartwarming or funny story do you have of your cat, living or passed on? What about your cat makes you smile when you think of it?

E-mail your stories and photos of your cat(s) and, if appropriate, I will post them here! With your permission, I will also add them into a compilation for a book. It doesn't have to be just stories or photos of cats that you send. You can also send poems you've written about your cat, drawings and paintings you've done of your cat and more. For example, my husband has drawn a couple of comics that were inspired by our cat which I will post here. (You must also own the copyright to any stories, comics, drawings, paintings, poetry and photos you send.)