032 The Cat Distribution System
Cats do what cats want to do.
The last time I wrote about the cat I noted that her parents were moving. Just up the road, but moving nonetheless.
I was sad at the time, not just about the thought of losing her company, but for a lot of other reasons as well.
After they announced they were moving, they also asked me if I would be interested in being “more than the fun auntie”, a role I played while they were away.
I have always wanted a cat (or two), but I’ve never thought I was ready for one and until I moved here I’d lived in rented accommodation that didn’t allow pets anyway. Besides, if I had any say in the matter I would not be getting a cat right now because of my employment situation.
There was some back and forth between me and her parents. I wanted them to have a go at taking her up the road to the new place, letting her get a feel for the surroundings, let her see the patio where she could potentially bask and monitor the locals up there from her elevated perch.
And so they did. I was sent a beautiful photograph of her, carefully sniffing the new air down the road.
The following morning they sent me a message telling me she was fine during the day, but had escaped during the night.
I didn’t see the message until after lunch. I hadn’t heard any scratches on my door indicating that she was back here, and she hadn’t set off my doorcam either. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t around.
I know she likes to sleep under the ferns by the creek at the end of my backyard, or on another neighbour’s tin shed. I also know that she knows the sound of my door opening, and she knows the sound of my car pulling into my driveway.
So I opened the door to see if it would draw her out, if she happened to be down my end of the street.
It was her little grumpy chatter that alerted me to the backyard. She was back down this end of the street, and I wasn’t to go back inside until she’d made her way up from the creek.
She greeted me with chirps and purrs, and finally the lean into my legs. She wound her way between my ankles, head butting my calves.
I guess she’d made up her mind.
That was on the 3rd of July. Her parents were not surprised in the least. If I’m being completely honest, I was a bit surprised. She hasn’t known me that long, and cats tend do just whatever cats want to do. It turns out that what she wanted to do was live at my place with me.
I think one of the reasons I was reluctant to have a cat was because it would mean taking on caregivers’ responsibilities. I know we like to say that cats are very independent and loners, but she’s not a feral cat. She’s a domestic cat. She needs to be cared for in some capacity. I’ve never been confident in my ability to be a caregiver in any capacity.
For better or worse, I have to get up in the morning because she needs to be fed. For better or worse, I have to get up in the morning because she needs a flea and tick treatment next month. For better or worse, I have to get up in the morning because I have to find a way to pay for her vet visits eventually (her parents hadn’t taken her to the vet since her initial vaccinations and hysterectomy, and she’s not microchipped).
I’m sure she would just find another house to move into if I wasn’t around. She would be OK, and her original parents are still just up the road. But I’m now responsible for her full time, and I will confess that it’s not the best time for this to happen. I’ll figure it out somehow. I always do.
So how have things changed since I took on the role as her full time assistant?
Let’s start at the beginning, over the time I have known her she has gradually gotten closer to me. I mean that literally.
She started out sleeping under the bed in the spare room.
Then she moved to on top of the bed in the spare room.
She then took to the couch - behind the couch, on top of the couch, on the seat of the couch. I should note that I don’t use my lounge room much.
Then she moved to a large envelope I had put on the floor in my office while I was sorting recycling. She’s shredded it to pieces. I am still not allowed to throw out this envelope.
A few times I caught her sitting on the floor directly behind me while I’m at my computer.
Since 3 July she has taken to sleeping on the desk. Yes, I had to make some room on the Nest-Desk for her.
And a few times she has attempted to gatekeep the keyboard. It hasn’t gone well.
She has also once snuck into my bathroom while I’ve been showering and waited for me to finish. It occurred to me, in that moment, that animals have no understanding of what it means to be naked, or the vulnerability a human confronts when naked in front of an animal with sharp claws. There are no photos of that, and I wouldn’t share them anyway.
Give it 6 months, if we’re still together, I think she’ll probably be a lap cat. When she sits on the desk in front of me with her engines running, I can tell she’s looking at me trying to figure out if she should put her front paws on me. She’s reached for me a few times. Headbutted my arms a few times. It all points towards something that might very well be inevitable: real cuddles.
Will she eventually want me to hold her in my arms? Maybe. Maybe not. It’s not really up to me. Cats do whatever they want.
So, meet Bubbah (fka Cassie). The cat that decided to live with me.
Here’s a link to the Go Fund Me because cats don’t give a shit about how employed you are.
THIS WEEK:
Most listened to song: War Isn't Murder - Jesse Welles
Favourite thing I’ve watched: Musical improv by Make Some Noise
Favourite thing I’ve read: This headline.
I’m most excited by: Steady on now.