Pets

My life would feel emptier if I didn’t have at least one pet. Currently, not counting the fish, we have three – 2 cats and 1 dog.

Some of the earliest photos my patents took of me are of infant me lying on the bed with our poodle Coquette lying near me. My parents for her in Germany while my father was stationed there and brought her back to the States – along with my sister and me.

Then there was Kitzel, an orange tabby; Sammy, Coquette’s daughter who took after her father Sam – some sort of terrier; Suzie was next after Coquette died — Sammy wouldn’t stop crying, so one night Dad surprised us when he came home by pulling a poodle puppy out from under his coat. An Irish Setter adopted us for awhile – hopping into our van when Mom dropped us off for school and staying for a few months before heading out on his way again.

We always had at least one cat and one dog growing up and I’ve always had at least one cat. Over the years there were others too: a ferret, iguanas, a tortoise, horses, bunnies, chickens, birds, fish.

Personally, I’m more of a cat person. Not that I don’t like dogs — if I didn’t, we wouldn’t have the ginormous puppy we do. Probably has to do with me being a more solitary and quiet person, rather than the high energy extrovert who seeks company and attention.

I also think cats are, for the most part, easier than dogs. However, the two we currently have are not always easy. Charlie is the scaredy cat who hides at the slightest strange sound or whenever any one comes over. But then he becomes very demanding and quite literally in your face when he wants your attention. Caesar is a prissy boy who wants the litterbox just so and his food just so and his water constantly freshened. He’s a nighttime snuggler, waiting downstairs for me to go up to bed. He’s also a mighty hunter, catching mice, birds, chipmunks, shrews, cicadas, flies…

There is something so fulfilling and special when an animal chooses to spend time with you, coming to you for attention, snuggling, kneading, purring, head-butting, tail-brushing, bouncing around to get you to play, stops-drops-and-rolls to show their trust, talking to you (and you talking back – yes, in the crazy pet lady).

And I love hearing others per stories – the cute and stupid and annoying and smart things they do.

Going to wrap this up now as Caesar is waiting for me to head up to bed so he can follow and join me.