1) She Know How to Nap
My cat can go from full-on gecko chasing mode to comatose in no time flat. She never has to read or go through elaborate rituals to fall asleep. She never complains that her to-do list is too long to rest for a bit. She doesn’t worry if the bed (or couch, or floor) isn’t “just right.” She simply sleeps when she wants. Maybe next time I want to nap, I’ll try chasing geckos first.
2) She Lets Her Needs be Known Clearly
Now, granted her needs are fairly simple: food, water, and a clean litter box, but, nevertheless, she always makes sure her caretakers know what she needs. She doesn’t hint around or expect mind-reading, just vocalizes to garner attention and then leads the nearest human to the vessel that needs attention.
3) She Accepts What Is
I have to admit, I am making some assumptions here, but I think it is safe to conclude that Ms. Kitty is not spending time comparing her current situation to her past. She exists completely in the “now” and doesn’t ruminate on the “then”.
4) She Has Learned Not to be Anxious
Maddy used to be an anxious feline; she even had to be sedated for a cross-country move when she was a kitten. In fact, every move was very stressful for her. She and I recently completed our fourth move in two-and-a-half years. With each move, her anxiety over the situation decreased. She seemed to understand that even though the ordeal would be stressful and that change was imminent and inevitable, she had survived this before and would again. So, there is no need to get all “fight and flighty” about it, just go with it and enjoy the exploration of the new.
5) She Trusts Her Intuition
This is where she really has me beat. In the last several months of my marriage, Maddy seemed stressed. She slept more, she wasn’t as affectionate, and she even avoided the dogs which were normally her buddies. Looking back, I was also anxious during that time, though I ignored it since I saw no rational reasons to be upset. I had a mental image of what was, and as the human brain is so apt to do, I ignored or explained anything that caused any cognitive dissonance. Cats don’t operate that way; they simply see what is. In our current home, with her new daddy and doggie brother, I am happy to say that Maddy is more relaxed and more social than she has ever been. I’m going to trust her on this one. After all, she is smarter than me.
I love this 🙂 When my parents split up when I was a kid, our family dog was a mess. He stopped eating, drinking, going for walks…he was textbook depressed! Once he moved in with my mom and all of us kids, he was much perkier and got back to his natural state. It’s amazing how these creatures can fall into so many “human” emotions.
Loved this post! Its really great how cats can really tell the mood you are in. I remember when I was a kid and there was this cat that could barely stand me. It was so bad, that the cat wouldn’t even come closer than 10 meters from me (seriously). Anyway, one week I got so sick I could barely stand up… and lo and behold…. There was the kitty. Napping on my chair, checking to see how I was doing.