Learning From Cats

Taking care of ourselves

Sometimes I'm sure we'd all be better off if we acted like cats! About four days ago, MzTiz, the 4-year-old tabby that calls me her designated person, and I moved from the boat where she grew up into a house!

She was NOT happy! Nor was she shy about letting me know she wasn't happy. In the car she howled! So often I hesitate to let people know how I'm feeling!

Once in the house, she stepped out of the cat carrier, flattened her ears, took a wild look around and disappeared behind the refrigerator! Not at all like me who, when faced with a scary situation, tries to act like I'm not frightened.

Sometimes hiding makes sense

She stayed there about 12 hours, then, the next morning, crept out and began to explore, just a little bit at a time. Several times she dove back to the 'fridge to spend another hour or so.

Now I don't really know what was going on in her kitty mind, but I suspect it was something like: it's dark, and safe here. i can hide and listen and smell and figure out what's going on and if it's really safe.

The next day I blew it by turning on the vacuum cleaner. I didn't even know where she'd gone until I peaked under the bed. It was late evening before she ventured out again.

Time does heal

The third night she was much more at home, playing, eating and more or less behaving like herself. Today I rigged a window so she can come and go as she pleases. The dog next door barked and scared her right back into the house, for awhile.

Now she's dozing on the bed, almost totally comfortable and leaving me admiring her capacity to take care of herself, to do exactly what she needed to do to feel safe, while she adjusted to change.

And that's what I think we need to learn from cats:

to let the world know how we really feel
to know what we need to do to feel safe, and do it!

Love, peace and abundance,

Kitty graphics from http://www.i-love-cats.com/