A Cat's life......

By Helen Lacey

I always thought it was a dog’s life. You know, lolling around, chewing shoes, eating, sleeping, and sniffing… all the things dogs do. I have three dogs and they do all that, pretty much every day. But since adopting two Ragdoll cats in the last twelve months I’ve come to realize that in my house it’s become more of a cat’s life. Even though I’ve had animals all my life, I’ve never owned indoor cats before. My only experience with feline pets has been the occasion stable cat, hanging around the horse feed shed for mice and the odd tasty spider. So, since Oscar (right) and Candy (left)have come into our home I’ve been privy to what it’s like to be ‘owned’ by a cat.

Firstly – it’s hugs when they want them. Unlike my dogs, who’ll take a pat, a smooch, a walk… anything really, as long as it’s human contact or attention.

Secondly – it’s food when they want it. Unlike my dogs, who will eat food all day and race around crazily and sniff anything that is dropped or being carried just in case it might be edible. One of my dogs even eats the citrus fruit on the trees in the yard. Another hangs out while I prepare the horse feeds in case she lucks into a morsel that might have missed the feed bowls.

And thirdly – attitude. My dogs just love…for no reason other than they are supremely grateful to be living with us. And it’s not that the cat’s don’t have that love gene…they do…it’s simply not the ‘pat me, pat me, feed me, feed me’ kind of love that my dogs excel at. It’s a more reserved, aloof kind of affection.

So, I’m curious if anyone else thinks the same about their dogs and/or cats? Or is it simply that my dogs are spoilt and needy and my cats are just smart?

Here are Oscar and Candy, fooling around in my office - I often wonder what they are thinking when they look at each other.

Leave a comment with a caption and I’ll give away a copy of my January release, His-And-Hers Family to one commenter.