Do you have a family pet?  If not – you can leave now.
 
If you answered yes – does your pet think he or she is human? The family comedian?   It’s interesting to really watch the personality of your animal emerge - be it a cat, dog or whatever.  I know not one of my animals has been like any other I’ve had.  Like humans, each has had its own distinct personality.
 
I’ve had cats, dogs, turtles, fish, gerbils, a hamster and snails.   Since I moved to Delmarva, most of my creatures have been cats – and 2 dogs.  Puddkitty is the current critter and while she isn’t as animated as some that I’ve had, she does keep herself and me entertained.  She also makes sure that any creepy crawly critter that manages to get into the house doesn’t stay for long.  Now if only she would decide that cricket legs taste like chicken!  She leaves those behind – I guess it’s just her gift to me, but it’s better than leaving ‘other’ things!  Pudd likes height – the top of anything is a great perch – doors, furniture, the mantle.  Even with only hind claws, she’s still a great climber.
 
Most of the cats I’ve had through the years have been social – they like the company of the humans in the house rather than going off on their own to sleep in a sunbeam.   Sam was a fighter – he protected the property from any other cat in the neighborhood.  He was my only outside cat, but met his match when he went after a large four-legged – car. 
 
Samantha was my mouse cat.  She could find any mouse that had the unfortunate luck to come into the house.  Of course she didn’t hunt it – she played with it to death.  And then just left it for Mommy to dispose of.  She liked everyone and had the knack of finding the one person in a group who didn’t really like cats and did her best to change their mind.
 
Pywich was the anti-social one of the bunch, but also came to me after her Mommy left her with me.  Actually Py was the queen of the house – and oversaw all in her realm.
 
Mickey was the lover of the bunch.  He knew he was cute and worked it to the max and then just sat on you and purred, but sometimes I think he thought he was a dog.  He is the only cat that actually came when you called him and he would play fetch with his toys!
 
Mo was abandoned at the Worcester County Humane Society and she and Puddkitty came to me at the same time.  Mo was 5 and very unhappy to be in such a noisy place and Pudd was 6 months and the baby in the cat room.  Mo was like Pywich – older and aloof, but she was more sociable.  Pudd you’ve already met. 
 
Cats aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but as long as you provide food and water, the occasional visit to the vet and some attention – they’re really the ideal pet for someone who wants a 4-footed companion, but doesn’t necessarily have a lot of time to devote to training.  Cats learn the litter pan in about 20 minutes.  You really don’t have to provide a bed – they’ll find their own – several actually.  I’ve read that cats need about an hour of your time a day, for petting and being paid attention.  Just sitting on you will do, too. 

This entry was posted on Friday, August 10th, 2007 at 1:42 pm and is filed under Children, Delaware, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Maryland. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.