Cats get a bad rap. Our perception of felines at best aloof and haughty and at worst villainous. They're mischievous and mysterious figures like the Cheshire Cat or downright evil like Snowbell of Stuart Little fame. They live in the shadow of America's favorite pet, the dog. But for those of those who live with them, we understand what they have to offer is beyond measure.
A chronic sufferer of anxiety and depression, I was looking for a companion to help alleviate some of the everyday symptoms of mental illness and combat loneliness. What I found was more than much more than a simple companion. I found a kindred spirit in Eleanor, a nine-week year old kitten. Eleanor was part of an abandoned litter found in the city. Her previous caretaker said she had a odd reputation. She was both feisty and anxious. She was fearless yet could not bear to be alone. Her favorite place was held close to your heart to hear it beating.
Eleanor came with a whole host of health problems. Based on what I was told by my veternarian, we suspect that prior to being rescued that she had lived in filth. During this time, she contracted all sorts of unsavory parasites. She weighed half of what a cat of her age should. Despite this, Eleanor's spirits remained high.
I am a first-time cat owner and the shock from how much work a kitten is hit me hard. Take it from me, caring for a kitten is very much similar to caring for a toddler. Lost your phone charger? Your kitten will find and claim it as a new teething toy. Forgot about that plate of spaghetti? She'll make it her dinner if you're not careful. For the first couple of weeks, I was in state of perpetual hyper-vigilance. Eleanor's energy drained my own.
Ask anyone that has owned a cat and they'll you that they're extremely particular creatures. Dogs will more often than not eat almost anything you put in front them. Cats, on the other hand, will enjoy that expensive chicken pâté one day and then turn up their nose at it the next. They'll go from enjoying a nice petting session one moment to chomping on your hand the next. Cats are not passive creatures. They know what they deserve and demand it. While that can be frustrating as their caretaker, there is something to be said about that.
Cats can't use words to communicate with us. They have to resort to action. Occasionally things get lost in translation but I know more than anything Eleanor has lot to say and lot to teach. Sometimes she asks a little bit of my patience in return, she gives me whatever love and affection she can. Be patient, she says, and act with love and she will return it tenfold.
Eleanor is a cat but in some ways, I hope to emulate her. She knows what she wants. She won't compromise for simply sate others. She acts with love but knows her limits and desires. For the passive people of the world -- such as myself -- we could all stand to act a little more like a cat. Sometimes we may be misinterpreted by the world but those who truly do understand us will appreciate it all the more.
