I firmly believe that most of life’s lessons can be learned from a cat. Take, for example, just a few minutes ago. I call for Mr. Kitty outside. Within a few minutes he appears at the back door. I let him in, and after a quick rub-against-my-leg greeting, he heads toward the food and water bowls, then stops to wait for me to accompany him. Mr. Kitty absolutely will not go to his food and water bowls of his own accord without an escort… Don’t ask.
That’s not the point, though. The point is that after I pour him fresh water (he usually refuses to drink “old†water), he sniffs at it and then waits to see what I will do. If I walk out of the bathroom immediately, he is distracted and will occasionally follow me out without having had a drink. If I stand and wait, he will get comfortable and start lapping away. If I wait for him to start and then walk away, he stops drinking as though my leaving has broken his ability to concentrate.
Although Mr. Kitty is a cat, and therefore must instinctually pay attention to anything and everything that makes the slightest movement or sound, there is something yet to be learned from this.
Here’s how the stream of consciousness goes: kitty doesn’t like to be left alone -> kitties are like babies -> babies don’t like to be alone -> maybe that’s why babies cry when they wake up from a nap…
Sure, babies get hungry and thirsty and need their diapers changed. But has anyone ever considered the effect of loneliness/abandonment a baby may experience when waking up alone in an empty room? Think about it. The child develops inside the mother, developing an intimate bond and sense of togetherness. After birth, the baby is comforted by presence – the presence of the mother primarily. A mother puts her baby in a crib of some sort to take a nap. The baby’s last moments of consciousness still involve the sense of presence. When naptime is over, the baby awakens to a cold, empty, abandoned feeling caused by the lack of presence. No sounds of mother nearby. No sense of touch. No warm breath. Baby is alone…
So that’s how my mind works. All that from giving my cat a bowl of water. See? Inevitably, there are always fresh new lessons to be learned from your cat.
Disclaimer: It is highly recommended that when searching for inspiration, one’s own cat be used, as using a foreign cat could result in severe side effects such as dry mouth, watery eyes, bad luck, and irritable bowel. For best results, please consult your veterinarian.