- HubPages»
- Pets and Animals
Confessions Of A Not So Crazy Cat Lady
Learning Life's Lessons From Cats
Cats are my passion, and I love to share what they've taught me with others. Patience, living efficiently to conserve our energy and strength and resolving disputes by literally turning the other cheek are all lessons we can learn from our cats.
My journey into the hearts and minds of cats began more than 20 years ago when I discovered 16 feral kittens living in a parking lot. The summer I spent alone in the parking lot with the kittens, feeding, trapping and relocating (we didn't do trap/neuter/return in those days) changed the way I view cats forever. It was a wonderful, almost magical experience, and I'll always be grateful to those tiny wild ones for sharing their world with me..
Photo: © Marilyn Gould | Dreamstime.com
Trying To Think Like A Cat
My first career was as a newspaper features writer and editor. Then I started a pet sitting service because I'd just gotten divorced and needed an extra money job. More than 30 years later, I'm still a cat sitter and wake up every morning looking forward to going to work. Of course, I still write, too, and I'm the president of a cat rescue that operates a no-kill, cage-free shelter.
I'd always lived with cats, sometimes many cats. But those kittens taught me that cats are far more complex than we may think. And when I was alone with them outside in the parking lot, I felt that we were communicating with each other on a higher level.
Over the years, I've read enough cat behavior books to fill up an entire bookcase. I can rattle off cat litter box solutions without even giving them a second thought. But the books that are the most meaningful and interesting to me are the ones that look at the world from the cat's point of view. Cat behavior problems, I've discovered, are almost always human behavior problems. And when we try to think like a cat and accommodate our cats' unique needs, those behavior problems fade away.
Photo credit: By Alvesgaspar, CC-BY-SA-3.0
Other Things I Love
- Grandchildren... all six of them! They range in age from six-18.
- Facebook... because it lets me keep in touch with my grandchildren. It's like a little family reunion every evening.
- Reading... there's nothing I love more than curling up with a cat and a good book.
- Walking with cats... yes, my cats and I love to walk together.
My All-Time Favorite Cat Books
Veterinarian Myrna Milani gives us a view of the world through a cats' eyes in CatSmart. Although I read this book years ago, I still refer to it when I'm helping people with cat behavior problems. Have you ever thought about how huge we humans look to our cats? Have you wondered why our cats hate the litter box that we think is perfect in every way, insist on scratching the arm of the sofa, are so picky about their food or are terrified of new places? CatSmart answers those questions and more.
I enjoyed this book so much and learned so much, too. Did you know cats can run at speeds up to 30 miles per hour? You'll find all kinds of interesting cat facts in this fascinating book by Jake Page.
Animal communication has always fascinated me, and I've read and reread this book by Penelope Smith. Find out how to open the door to your cats' hearts and minds and listen to what they have to say.
Blessed By An Angel
This lens was blessed by a Squid Angel. Thank you WriterJanis
My Favorite Links - They're All About Cats, Of Course!
- Howard County Cat Club A No-Kill Cat Rescue With Adult Cats For Adoption
We have lots of cat care articles on our website, along with our beautiful cats for adoption. - Howard County Cat Club - Non-Profit Organization - Columbia, MD | Facebook
Check out our Facebook page for lots of pictures of cats. - Pampered Pets Pet Sitting
Pampered Pets is Columbia, MD's oldest cat sitting service and is affectionately recommended by cats and their people.
Scratch A Note Here - I Love Reading Your Comments And Suggestions
This is what cat lovers like; milk! Nice lens and thank you for sharing.
Cats rule! (or so they think) Cats have quite the personality. I enjoyed your lens.
Blessing this as I've also done cat rescue work and I know what wonderful pets ferals can become if given the chance.
I love cats too! I must say how many people are surprised that I have as many as I do without them fighting. They all get along and are all very happy and healthy, so I must be doing something right. Thanks for sharing this great information.
Olivia Felini has bookmarked you on her list of favorite authors. And she asked me to give you a full Four Paws rating. Thank you for publishing this lens. It tells a wonderful story. Meow.
lovely lens, I too am cat crazy and think we can learn a lot from our feline friends. My cat certainly runs rings around me! xx
Am happy you've found your passion. What a great thing to do.
Love your story. Bless you. For certain the cats have to train the humans. I'm a well trained human. LOL.
We have rescued several feral cats ~ and one lived to be 20 years old! We have one that is 16, and a few that are younger than ten. They do bring joy to a family! Great lens ~ I'm glad to hear you rescue kitties and cats and keep them from being put to sleep. I'm sure that's a huge job and responsibility! Good for you ~ keep up the great work!
I definitely never attempted to walk one of my cats. I think the cat would win that discussion.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge of cats.
11