A very bad selfish cat
Like 0 Dislike 0 Published on 27 Mar 2016
Are cats self-centered? Yes, and no.
Yes, in terms of them being essentially independent. But once their social connections are activated, they can be as altruistic as a human or a canine, those famous pack animals.
Cats will usually attempt to take care of their own needs, themselves. This is simply cats being practical.
But this doesn’t mean cats don’t understand, or acknowledge, the contributions we make to their care.
Sure, maybe they would prefer to open those cans themselves. It would be great if they could clean their own litter!
But the more we connect with our cats, the more we realize just how willing they are to be dependent on our love.
When I spent time over the summer with unexpected relative visits, one family member complained of neglect. Tristan felt my absence keenly. When things settled down, and I went back to my writing places, Tristan would appear. He wanted to stretch himself over my legs, anchoring me in place.
He’d been fed and played with. He had not lacked for any physical need. But he had not seen much of me, and very much wanted to make up for lost time. I’m moved by that, incredibly so.
People mistake a cat’s reticence for indifference. They will see a cat’s withdrawal from hurt feelings as a lack of feelings. If Tristan and I were not so close, would he have missed me so much? Or is it that Tristan is open about his need for love, and I am one of the beings in his world who supplies it?
RJ still got his morning and night refueling stops. James Bond still slept against my chest all night. Olwyn was still picked up and cuddled once a day. What Tristan missed was all those touch-and-go moments he’s used to getting from me when I’m home. When I’m not; he misses them.
Every day, my own cats reveal the Myth of the Indifferent Cat. People think that way only because they have not put forth the effort to find a cat’s heart. The truth of cat affection is incredibly easy.
We just need to realize it is possible.