Feline Philosophy

Scooter making his rounds in the front yard.

Guidelines for healthy living I’ve learned from the cats in my life.

*Routine is good, especially for meal times. It does a body good. But don’t rule out the occasional feast or treat.

*Routine is good for sleep cycles, too. It’s great when the food/sleep routines are synced. Don’t resist the occasional power nap.

*Don’t force your routines on others who have different needs. Look for the good, go with the flow.

*Daily meditations fuel the spirit. Find a comfy, favorite perch and clear the mind. In the midst of nature is even better.

*Maintain connections. Lapsitting is mutually beneficial.

*Find new laps, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.

*Incorporate play into daily schedules. Lots of dollars are not necessary. Playing with paperwads and boxes is just as much fun as playing with store bought trinkets.

*Share. There are enough laps, perches and boxes to go around. Kindness intensifies bonds.

*Zipping around is sometimes necessary, but take the time to make time. Constant activity has its downside.

*Don’t blab so much that no one takes notice of your communications.

*Let others know when you are happy.

*Don’t be bashful about asking for help.

We didn’t have a family cat until I was fourteen. He was a Siamese living with us on the top floor of a two-story flat in St. Louis. It’s bizarre that I can’t remember his name. He was unhappy most of the time. He wasn’t shy about sharing his dissatisfaction with city life and his human siblings. Laptime wasn’t in his routine. Hanging on screens and howling filled his time. If he was out, he wanted in, and vice-versa. We never got it right. Shortly after our move to Ripley County, he followed his dreams and disappeared. His line lives on.