Affinity For Cats

I have always had an affinity for cats. Growing up in a home with a father who was allergic to most cuddly creatures never stopped me from scooping up a tiny stray kitten, or orphaned wild rabbit and praying that “this time” some how magically my father’s allergy would go away and I’d be allowed to nurture and care for it and give it a loving forever home.
For years I spent time content to love cats from a distance, studying them and learning about their behavior just by being silent, setting among them, experiencing the joy of being accepted by them, and witnessing for myself what it is that makes a cat either totally loved and appreciated, or hated by humans.

It was and continues to be the quiet times spent watching both our rescued and now domesticated cats, as well as the ferals in our care, that grounds me and lifts me up when the stress of being human overwhelms me. It is from them that I have learned much about my own personality; reminding me that if God could create such a creature that under the most adverse conditions can, with such dignity and grace rise above it all, then so should I be able too.

Cats use the wonderful senses that God gave them to judge everything about the world around them; from their interaction with their own species to interaction with other animals and humans outside their finite group. I have often mused that my own personality was much like theirs only I lacked the confidence and strength as a human to relax, forget about what others think of me, and just stand tall and proud of who I am and even if some might consider me the most forlorn of the litter; it’s not my outward appearance or others assumptions that make me who I truly am.

Cats love you in their own time and space but if you are lucky enough to be allowed into their world than you have witnessed the true meaning of unconditional love. How easily we as humans often dismiss how important unconditional love is to our very existence.

I don’t credit “the cat” for giving me the strength to go on each day, or for making me a better person but rather give credit to our creator for using them as the tool that He knows touches my soul, gets my attention, keeps me grounded and makes me work harder at being a kinder more gentle person toward others, as well as toward myself.

The image I submit with this writing, “Heavenly Peace”, taken of our rescued cat Dorothy, represents many things for me, but it is above all proof of what unconditional love is, and can do in my life when accepted and never abused.

• Favorite
• Report Concern
• Share This
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Add your comment

You need to login or signup to add your comment to this work.

Tags:

affinity, cats, danceswithcats, dwccreations, featured, lifeline and writing