I'll admit, this one was hard for me to read. Cats tried to kill me in my 20s. My allergy to them hit hard and fast and sucked the life right out of me. My allergist told me that I had the most severe cat allergy he had ever seen and if I so much as got into a car with someone who owned a cat, I would die. I spent a decade terrified of cats. I eventually went through an alternative therapy treatment to the tune of $2k that treated the allergy. but I still avoided the critters...until recently. a good friend I visit with in her home twice a month got a covid cat. I wasn't allergic to him, and I grew to love them again.
I'm a dog person. I could write my own version of this article about the dogs of my life. Two of whom just displaced me from my cozy reading spot on my office sofa because they wanted to be there together.
So many cat personalities! Growing up on a farm, cats belonged in the barn, so I never knew them as individually as you. But I've known goat personalities and cow personalities and dog personalities! Animals are as individual and interesting as people.
I have to say, I chuckled at the image of Penny just waiting for the perfect drip of water! Cats are such wonderfully eccentric creatures, aren't they? And your honest account of hating the litter box—so relatable! It's funny how these small, sometimes unpleasant, details are such an integral part of the bond. It’s a reminder that love and connection aren't just about the warm and fuzzy moments, they’re also about the shared daily grind, the quirks and challenges that come with sharing our lives with another being. Your vulnerability in sharing these less glamorous aspects of pet ownership makes your love for them feel all the more genuine and powerful, as do your anecdotes about when it was all so wonderful. I think the contrast makes the happy times even more meaningful.
This is so true, Alex. Thanks for expressing this truth so eloquently. Whether adding pets or people to our lives, no matter what form the adding takes (marriage, adoption, friendship, birthing) it's never "happily ever after" in the sense of "nothing challenging" in the relationship.
Thanks so much for that perspective! I have an addendum I’m going write for this piece. There was a whole section that wasn’t complete before my post time, so I let it. But I’ll be adding it somehow later this week. This Substack process has been fun and challenging both. 😀
I'll admit, this one was hard for me to read. Cats tried to kill me in my 20s. My allergy to them hit hard and fast and sucked the life right out of me. My allergist told me that I had the most severe cat allergy he had ever seen and if I so much as got into a car with someone who owned a cat, I would die. I spent a decade terrified of cats. I eventually went through an alternative therapy treatment to the tune of $2k that treated the allergy. but I still avoided the critters...until recently. a good friend I visit with in her home twice a month got a covid cat. I wasn't allergic to him, and I grew to love them again.
I'm a dog person. I could write my own version of this article about the dogs of my life. Two of whom just displaced me from my cozy reading spot on my office sofa because they wanted to be there together.
So many cat personalities! Growing up on a farm, cats belonged in the barn, so I never knew them as individually as you. But I've known goat personalities and cow personalities and dog personalities! Animals are as individual and interesting as people.
I love this! Yes, animals are as individual and interesting as people. It's lovely when you spend the time to get to know them.
You have been blessed to know so many cats! And Shadows lived to 29?!?! Wow!
I have to say, I chuckled at the image of Penny just waiting for the perfect drip of water! Cats are such wonderfully eccentric creatures, aren't they? And your honest account of hating the litter box—so relatable! It's funny how these small, sometimes unpleasant, details are such an integral part of the bond. It’s a reminder that love and connection aren't just about the warm and fuzzy moments, they’re also about the shared daily grind, the quirks and challenges that come with sharing our lives with another being. Your vulnerability in sharing these less glamorous aspects of pet ownership makes your love for them feel all the more genuine and powerful, as do your anecdotes about when it was all so wonderful. I think the contrast makes the happy times even more meaningful.
This is so true, Alex. Thanks for expressing this truth so eloquently. Whether adding pets or people to our lives, no matter what form the adding takes (marriage, adoption, friendship, birthing) it's never "happily ever after" in the sense of "nothing challenging" in the relationship.
Thanks so much for that perspective! I have an addendum I’m going write for this piece. There was a whole section that wasn’t complete before my post time, so I let it. But I’ll be adding it somehow later this week. This Substack process has been fun and challenging both. 😀
Haha. Your post is perfect as is. 🩵
Instead of an addendum, it should be a part 2! 😂
Good idea!
To all the cats I've loved before: Alexander, Color Puffs, Sasha, Mama, Miles, Emma, Dude, and Joey. ❤️