November 5, 2007

• Cats!

  Some or you will remember my entry from a couple weeks ago. I detailed Ike’s (a dog) visit. Katy (my cat) wasn’t too pleased to have him here but she eventually seemed to come to some understanding that he wasn’t going to hurt her. The last several days, my friend Allison, her two girls, Ike, and Gertrude (her cat) have been to visit. Having Gertrude here has really been a stretch for Katy!

  Day one: Katy retreated to beneath the dresser and pretty much stayed there. At one point, I heard her crying piteously. I checked and found Gertrude camped out in front of the dresser Katy was hiding under. Later, Katy ventured out of the room and I found her crying at the top of the stairs. Gertrude was sitting smugly three steps down.

  Day two: Katy and Gertrude periodically had hissing contests. Again, Katy pretty much stuck to the relative safety of my room.

  Day three: Ike decided he would rather sleep with me than Allison for some reason. When he hopped into bed, Katy retreated to the dresser, again. I got up a few hours later. Ike stayed in bed. I showered and emerged to find Katy in front of my closed door crying. When I peeked out, there was Gertrude — hissing at the closed door. Somehow, I made it downstairs to pack my lunch. All three pets followed. While Gertrude and Katy still kept a decent distance from each other, they seemed to call a truce. Katy had pretty much given up eating the last several days. I can tell she has begun to adjust as her food dish was empty when I came home.

  The only revelation I have from my cat watching the last few days is that sometimes they just have to come to grips with the reality of the situation in their own time and on their own terms. No amount of coaxing was going to lure Katy out or convince her that she was safe. In some ways, that isn’t all that unlike human behavior. Sometimes we hunker down and hide even when others or God tells us its safe. We have to come to our own conclusions.

   

  • 7:42 pm
  • 4 Comments