May 18, 2012

Four Legged Friends Of The Feline Variety . . . By Helen Lacey

It’s no secret that I am an animal lover . . . or nutcase as I have been called by my family over the years. I travelled a lot as a child and didn’t have the opportunity to have a pet of my own. My ‘pets’ were Lassie, Black Beauty, The Silver Brumby, My Friend Flicka and Buck from Call of The Wild. I loved these stories and the animal characters spoke to my eight year old imagination. When I was eleven, my parents stopped their travelling ways and we settled down so I could start high school.

 It meant one thing to me. A dog. I could finally have a dog. And we did. Not the cute puppy I’d imagined though . . . a nine month old black Great Dane called Bruno who grew into an 85kg giant. And he was the start of my animal collection. I had always been pony mad, so a horse came next. And another dog. And another horse. And yet more dogs as some passed away and new ones came into my life. There was a duck called Doc and a cockatoo called Sam. Then came Nanoo – a goat. Which quickly turned into three goats when she unexpectedly had twins. It wasn't long before three turned into twelve (Goats don’t understand birth control, I discovered).

Fast forward many years and I married a man who has indulged my love for anything with four legs and a tail. Eight horses, three dogs, three birds and a house cow named Ginger would, you might think, be enough for even the most ardent animal enthusiast. Now, I have been parading as a LoveCat for a while . . . but the truth is we were a feline free family. I snuck under the radar here as someone without a cat. When other LoveCats would blog about their kitty’s I would shrink down the keyboard and hope it wasn't noticed that I was here under false pretences. But then along came Oscar.
 
Three weeks ago Oscar needed a home, and I suddenly was the owner of the most amazing cat ever. Here he is, awake and clearly king of the world. His other usual pose is being asleep on the bed (terrible, I know). Now, the three dogs are not so convinced a cat is a great idea, particularly since he is inside, and they are outside. And my indoor parrot, Curly, doesn’t talk quite as much as he used to J


I’ve never been what you would call a ‘cat person’. Dogs and horses were my thing. I always considered cats aloof and disinterested in human interaction. But not now. My new Ragdoll has become a firm friend. He plays, he purrs, he loves attention. And he’s got me thinking about how some pets come into our lives and make a big impression, and how quickly they adapt to their new surroundings when they are happy and relaxed.

 Do you think that some pets touch our heart more than others? Have you ever owned a pet you never imagined would fit in with your family, but somehow has? Or what about owning an unusual pet? And snake or alpaca lovers out there?
 
So, now there’s no more slinking down the keyboard. I . . . a horsey girl through and through . . . have a cat, and he already a legend.

21 comments:

  1. Wow, Helen- what a lot of pets! I grew up in cities, spread my wings to more cities and am now living on the edge of a city, so it's cats all the way for me! I've had a few through my life- all treasured and loved (and often aloof). My friends have just got a rag doll too- they are adorable- I'm very jealous! So cute. I'd love a dog (and my kids would too), but we just don't have the room or the time...maybe when I'm retired....*sigh*

    ReplyDelete
  2. Helen, I think animals are so important to our wellbeing. It's wonderful how having someone to listen (and not talk back!) helps when times are tough. We've had some terrific dogs along the way that have been treasured members of the family - and real characters to boot. One was a poor stray who'd been maltreated and was always grateful, poor thing, for her new home. But that was the point - it was home, and her presence added to the family.

    As well as dogs I once had a pony who's party trick was delicately eating pumpkin and spitting out the seeds. We used to get pumpkins coming up everywhere!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Helen, I don't have a cat either. When my stepdaughter left home Lucky, her cat, adopted me and I became cat step mum. But sadly at 18 years old Lucky left for cat heaven.
    When we adopted Boss, the ex pig dog, a greyhound/whippet cross we were a bit concerned. On the day he arrived he was so aloof we didn't think he'd ever settle with us. But four years later, as his ex owner said, he'd certainly made himself at home and was spoilt rotten. Sadly, he's now lying beside Lucky, and we're waiting a while before adopting the next dog. Boss's ex owner has another beautiful dog waiting to move in here as soon as we're ready and know we're going to be at home enough. A house without animals seems empty, and I'm not bringing my hens inside to fix that!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh! Helen, your Oscar is soooo adorable! I have a family of cats who've adopted me! One mum and four kittens are not a bit too much, are they?

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love your, Oscar, Helen! He's gorgeous! I've always had a soft spot for that "Siamese" type of colouring. A friend of ours had an Oscar and he was pretty amazing too. He was a stroppy old cat - he gave our dog, Sally, a severe telling off when we took her to visit and she wanted to check out his dinner bowl. But when it came to their children, he would put up with anything. I saw their toddler accidentally sit on him - he just lay there without complaint until an adult scooped the child up.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Louise - yes, I have a barnyard. But I love them all :)The ragdoll breed is adorable and I'm so glad we have Oscar.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Helen,
    Your Oscar is just gorgeous. My SIL has 2 ragdolls and I'd never come across them before that, but they're soft and glorious house cats. Sometimes I don't even notice they're there, they just seem to be a part of the back of the couch.

    Enjoy your new-found cat love :)

    Cath xo

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Annie - I like the whole listening and not talking back idea too :) And a pumpkin seed spitting pony - that's a pet with character.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Nas - one mama cat and four kittens sounds wonderful. You shall have to post a pic of Romance Paradise. Thanks for stopping by :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Sue - I love stories about animal adoptions! And inside hens sounds like a interesting possibility:)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Sharon - I like the siamese coloring too. And they really are an amazingly placid cat. Oscar's previous owner had a two year old who I believe used the carry him around the neck - he a little less drama in his life now :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Catherine - ohhh - 2 Ragdolls? Now that sounds like a happy household :) Thanks for stopping by today.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Helen, your Oscar looks a right, royal sweetheart!

    I had cats when I was growing up and I miss not having one now, but we have so much birdlife! where I live, I'm thinking it might just be wiser to get a dog. :-)

    And snap! I had a pet goat as a kid. Saxon -- the sweetest little angora goat imaginable. Hmm...actually, given the jungle that my yard is, a goat could be a damn fine pet at the moment!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Michelle - i adore angoras. i probably need one for my yard too :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Helen, Oscar is gorgeous! I just want to cuddle into his soft fur.

    I had a personality-plus cat called Winston who was the son of a stray. A friend had been adopted by a pregnant stray, who then had kittens in her bedroom. I was visiting the night after they were born, so the only question was, which one would I adopt?

    Winston had a cameo appearance in Return of the Secret Heir as Pia's cat, and I loved spending a bit more time with him, even if it was only in my head.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Helen, Oscar is beeeeeautiful! And I'm glad that he knows it LOL Lucky cat to have landed in your home. The puppies will get used to him. You're a family after all =)
    I've had lots of cats, mice, guineas, a couple of dogs. There was a Siamese cat who decided to stay with me for a while and he'll always have special place in my heart. He used to sleep under the covers at my feet and fetch anything I threw. Wish I'd known him longer.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oscar looks adorable! Ragdolls are so cute and cuddly. I wish my tortie was as agreeable at times, but I think Oscar is going to provide you many years of happiness while you provide him with many years of dedicated service!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Rachel - yes, he is sooo adorable. And I'm jealous you have put your cat in a book. I'm pretty sure Oscar will make an appearance in a story for me soon :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Robyn - I've never had a mouse or a guinea pig. Hmmmm. Something to consider :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi Cheryse - I have always wanted a Ragdoll cat . . . I just had to wait for the right one :) Thanks for stopping by.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Had to drop in and say that having cuddled the legendary Oscar myself, he's 'all that' and more. Helen you are one lucky cat owner!

    ReplyDelete