The Primary Difference

    My son is a teenager now and I find myself entertained more and more by he and his friends.  They are coming up with their own ideas and opinions and developing into the people they are going to be the rest of their lives.  One particular friend of his, Jordan, who is 18, has us laughing all the time.  However, we were disappointed when he told us that he hates cats.  Hates cats?! "Why, Jordan, why?" we asked.  Cats are important in this pet-loving family.  This aversion to the feline species has always been difficult for us to comprehend.  But, that is just how it is with some people.  I have met more than one person in my thirty-seven years of life who profess to hating cats.  Oddly enough, they are usually the same people who wholeheartedly love dogs.  Well, Jordan explained himself to us in this way:
               You feed, clean up after, and care for a dog, and he thinks you are God.
               You feed, clean up after, and care for a cat, and he thinks, "I must be God."

     Hmmmm....he has a point.


(This was written by my daughter, Karen.)

Cats in the Family vs. Dogs in the Family

 Our beloved dog

Is predictable

Is happy to see us

Tail wagging

Whole body wriggling

Can't contain his joy

--always

 

Our cat

*might* acknowledge us

*might* glance our way

Or not

May come up for a pat

May possible respond to a toy

--but not always

 

Some cats

I have known

Run to us in greeting

Utter a burp or meow

Rubs her whole body against us

Even wags her tail (though a bit lazily)

--but not always

 

Who can predict when the cat

Will feel like being sociable?

Or when she will be *above* us

We are beneath her

A cat tolerates you

A dog worships you happily

--always

 

I think cat lovers prefer cats

Because of the challenge

They enjoy the gamble

That is what is unique

And those who like dogs best

Simply won't put up with the unrest

 

 

-Karen Gillespie

 









A Beautiful Thing

     A friend of my daughter's moved in with her, her husband, and child.  Also making the move were more pets and her own child.  It is a beautiful thing when one helps out another in need.  All are animal lovers.  And what better way to show it than to display over the mantel place stockings.  These stockings do not include children's names or even theirs.  But it is their pet's names written on the stockings. 
     Across the fireplace mantel hangs stockings with these names:  Shadow (cat), Midnight (cat), Xena (cat), Snyder (dog), Bella (dog), Killer (turtle), and one for all the pet fish that simply says The Fish. 
     Christmas time is a time to show love not only to human kind, but to our pets.  I may not be one who hangs the stockings, but extra treats will be given to all my inside and outside cats. 

     I wish a Merry Christmas to all (human and pets alike).

Christmas

   Thanksgiving comes before Christmas.  But to retailers it seems to be passed by quickly.  They jump right into Christmas.  Even this year, Halloween seemed to be put on the back burner.  But then again, I started early Christmas shopping.  Waiting to the last minute puts a real financial burden on me.  Whether one shops early or shops late, depends on the individual.  Who cares when retailers start their ads and such?  For me, it is better to start early.  Where am I going with this?
     Christmas is truly a wonderful time of the year.  As we buy for family, friends, etc., let us not forget our four-legged member of the family.  Our cat has demonstrated all year long his/her loyalty and love for us.  At this time of year give a bag of treats.  Or better yet, hang a stocking filled with all kinds of cat toys.  After all, cats sometimes act like people, too.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to cats and cat lovers!

Not As Many

     There are not as many cat stories now to share.  The reason is simple.  We feed less than ten outside; whereas there once was around twenty to thirty.  We've seen cats die.  We've seen less coming.  We simply call them missing.  Surely something has happened to them for certainly they would not pass up a free meal.  With only a few female cats, kittens are less.  And if they manage to survive weeks, then some other death cause becomes them.  Whoever said there were so many strays out there could be wrong.  There was never a census paper filled out by them.  A stray cat has such a hard life.  He becomes victim to predators from the two-legged kind to the four-legged kind.  Whatever is his demise?  Whatever?  There do seem to be less at my house.                                           A cat is a beautiful animal.  He was put on this earth for a reason.  If I could, I would bring every cat inside for his safety.  But that is not possible.  I do wish there was more love for him by all.  I wish everyone could respect and love this harmless creature as I do.  As I sit here typing, one of my indoor cats is trying hard to get my attention.  I do love the feel of a cat's hair.  If taken care of properly, they are so soft.  They love the rub as well as I love to give it.
     My cat has won.  I discontinue writing for now and am reaching over to give her that love rub.  

Nibblerz

     This story is written by my eleven year old grandson, Adam.  


     On my eleventh birthday, God gave me a kitten.  I walked outside that morning with my mom and brother.  We found a friendly orange tabby.  He was so cute and cuddly, we decided to keep him.  We saved him so he won't go in the busy road.  He meows a lot and he is playful. We call him Nibblerz because he will nibble on your fingers and toes.

Hilarious Cat Episodes (2 0f 2)

     It was Thanksgiving.  After eating, the dishes could wait until tomorrow.  The food was put up.  There was a lot of turkey left.  But even cleaning it from the bone could wait until tomorrow.  The turkey was put in the refrigerator covered with aluminum foil.  
     I walked into the kitchen early the next morning.  There on the floor was the turkey I had put in the refrigerator the night before.  And there eating on the turkey was the culprit himself, who had somehow gotten the turkey out of the refrigerator.  It was our cat, Tiger. Before attempting the cleanup job, I stood there amazed.  How did that cat get the refrigerator door open?  The door itself had suction.  How he got in the refrigerator was a true wonder.  But there eating from the floor was proof he had gotten in somehow.  I found myself changing anger to laughter.  The turkey now was going to have to be thrown away. And so, I allowed tiger to keep eating.  It may have been seen as rewarding him.  But then again, he really deserved the turkey after the hard work he must have put into getting it.  I still laugh to this day about it.  Cats can do some of the funniest things...