A Letter to the Many Cats in My Life

To Adagio and Notorious B.I.G.,There are so many reasons I should not like you. Addy, I regularly wake up to your nose being about an inch away from mine, your hot cat-food-smelling breath in my face. I know you’re just checking to see if I am awake because that’s the only acceptable reason for my hands to not be petting you, but it’s a little creepy. Biggie, you’re brain must be the size of a peanut because you do so many dumb things, such as the recent dental-floss-hanging-out-of-your-butt incident and your insistence on still looking for more dental floss to eat.

And yet.

I am filled with joy when it’s my lap you choose to sit on while we watch TV or my chest you want to sit on at night. I love watching you chase after invisible bugs or that red dot you will never catch. I apologize excessive for the hugs and for loving to dress you up so much, but you both look so darn cute in a necktie or band t-shirt.

Pretty soon and I am going to be spending some time at home recovering from some medical stuff and I’m already plotting ways to make it so you can still be by my side. This afternoon I’m heading out to buy a bed tray so that 20 pounds of cat can’t jump on me, but can still curl up alongside me. I know cats get a bad reputation for not being as loving and as attentive as dogs. But Addy and Biggie, I’ve seen you be both and I’m expecting you to step it up over these next several weeks!

Love,
The Big Lady

Adagio used to be quite ornery but he’s turned into the sweetest old man.

We adopted Notorious B.I.G. several years ago from a rescue. He’s full of personality!

To the series of outside cats living in our yard, currently including Bolt and Winston Churchill,

I don’t know how you survive outside winter after winter. You’d know I’d bring you inside! But that has failed too many times. So me and Big Man put food out for you and watch in awe as you chase off raccoons to protect your turf and your dinner.

I wish you would see my garden as a beautiful patch of flowers and not as a giant litter box, but it warms my heart when I see you belly-up in a spot of sunshine.

This winter sounds like it will be a cold one. You’re already bulking up (do you ever stop bulking up?) so I think you’ll be okay, but know that there will be plenty of food and a warm Snuggle Safe waiting on the back porch for you.

Love,
The Lady Who Terrorizes You By Periodically Bringing You Inside

This is Bolt, so named because when he sees you, he Bolts. Winston Churchill is a new addition and has not yet been agreeable to a photo shoot.

To All of the Cats at the Rescue,

When I met Wonder Boy eleven years ago, I was not a fan of cats. Then I met his two guys and started to change my opinions. In 2005 when I started volunteering at the animal rescue, I was completely won over and now qualify as a crazy cat lady. I’m happy that for one day a week I get to have 50-100 cats. I’m also relieved that I don’t have to carry too much guilt about not taking you all home with me because you all either find your way into wonderful forever homes or have a squadron of volunteers giving you more attention than a lot of people receive.

Since volunteering at the rescue, I’ve met some of my best friends, human and animal, and learned a lot about caregiving. I no longer flinch, too much, at getting poop on me. I know the terror of bathing a kitten and giving cats medicine but can do those things relatively easily now. I’ve also learned about the collective power of a group of people all dedicated to the same mission and that’s pretty amazing.

Volunteer night is my favorite day of the week. It’s the only time I know I can expect to hold an entire litter of kittens on my arms, get head butts and pet the seemingly stand-offish but gloriously soft Reba.

Love you all,
Kate

Some of these cats have been adopted since their photos were taken. See all of the cats looking for forever homes from the animal rescue at which I volunteer.

This post was inspired by A Letter to My Cat by Lisa Erspamer, a collection of letters penned by celebrities to their furry friend. Join From Left to Write on November 10th as we discuss A Letter to My Cat. As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.

This post originally appeared on Kate’s Point of View. © Kate. All rights reserved.