Names of the guy and his cat(s) (First name is fine)
Carl, dad to Skeemer and Honey
How did you (he) get your first cat?
Through a misunderstanding, a kitten was reserved for me. When she was ready to be adopted, they called and called. I thought it to be a wrong number, but discovered that I had, indeed, inadvertently committed to taking the kitten while talking to a friend distracted and not paying attention.
What do you (he) most admire about your cat?
Skeemer captured my heart in spite of no plans for having a cat. She is very intuitive to my emotional state of mind and reacts accordingly. She has an impressive vocabulary of phrases she understands. She knows her name and comes when called. She still loves to play, and is a great listener.
Describe any daily routines you (he) and your cat share
Of course there is lap time. And I squeeze in a bit of playtime each day. When I go to bed, Skeemer will meow from the next room, and I call her and she climbs into bed and sleeps next to me. For some reason I have to invite her each night and she will meow until I do so.
What I Did:
I went to the store and picked up kitten supplies. I then picked up six week old tiny Skeemer and brought her home. We grew closer and closer as time went by. I taught her to play games, to understand word phrases, and NOT to bite. I brought her to the vet and gave her the best medical care that I knew how. We now have had ten years of a very close friendship, I cannot imagine how life was before her.
When Skeemer was ten months, I brought home Honey supposing they would be playmates. Unfortunately they have never really gotten along. Honey is a bit moody, but can be quite affectionate and loves to cuddle.
How I Did It:
How I did it? When I first realized that I was getting a kitten, I Googled "cat" and found the About Forums. From there I received a wondrous array of advice and suggestions. I researched what foods, what litter, and what medical care were best.
I spent a lot of time with Skeemer. I got to know her personality. I found that she was a quick learner and was much more intelligent than I had anticipated. We developed an emotional bond that not only has been a comfort but lots of fun.
Honey presented a challenge when she came from the shelter. After the health issues were resolved, I had to get to know a different personality. I did not expect that the two cats would be so different in their behavior. And I also learned that having two Alpha females in the same household does not tend towards peace and quiet.
Honey was not as bright as Skeemer, but she was a little mimic and would learn things from Skeemer... some good things, but also some mischievous stuff. Honey evolved from being a rescued street cat who had been abused into a very interesting and loving creature. At first she only saw hands, but then grew to look at people's faces and make eye contact. Now she even "talks" to people.
So for the last ten years, I've become a cat dad. I know that sometime people are divided into "cat" people and "dog" people. I love dogs, too, but the cats appeared to be much easier to care for because of their independence. I love both my cats, and I think my life would certainly be missing something if they were not here.
As for being a guy who has cats, I certainly am not embarrassed by it. Actually it did not even occur to me to feel embarrassed. As I have mentioned before, perhaps it is growing up out in the country with lots of animals that has led me to enjoy the many facets of different creatures. Or maybe I missed the social "training" that would tell me to be embarrassed. In any event, I love my girls. I think cats are totally cool.
I have lots of friends, and my male friends seem to enjoy my cats just as much as my female friends. It is the cats that seemed to be a bit partial; Honey is more friendly and outgoing around men, while Skeemer seems to prefer warming up to women. But they both enjoy my having guests.
And I am quite proud of my cats; I do find occasion to talk about them with just about anyone who will listen. They are my "kids" my family, and an important part of my life; just no embarrassment there!
Lessons Learned
- Cats have very different personalities
- Cats can be very intuitive, emotionally
- Cats can learn to understand words and phrases
- Cats do not always get along
- Cats have good memories
- Cats have instinctive behaviors
- Cats have a multitude of ways to express themselves.
- Cats have emotions and different moods
- Cats love attention
- Cats love to play
- Cats bond with their humans quite deeply
- Cats are totally cool creatures
