Crazy Cat Lady

 

Crazy Cat Lady. You've all heard the label. Now that I am a Crazy Cat Lady, I wonder why it's such a derogatory term.  I have a good friend ( NAT!) who sometimes teases me about it. When I own it, and tell her "Yes, I am." she takes it back and tells me she's only kidding. 

But why? What's wrong with being crazy for cats? 

I'll freely admit, when we got Freya, I went bonkers. In many ways, I still am, but it still feels good. 

You know what makes me STOOPID happy? You know what gives me a GUSH of endorphins? Watching my cats sleep. I could stare until it gets weird. There is something about a contented cat, perfectly at peace in a tidy little ball, or a long stretch that makes my heart want to burst. Freya frequently sleeps with a little smile on her face. 

I like dogs, but I LOVE cats. You prefer dogs? Excellent. Everyone knows dogs are amazing and loving animals. You have both dogs and cats? Excellent. Sounds like the best of both worlds. I just prefer cats, and if I had more space and more money, I would have more. 

I currently have three cats. Freya is my very first pet, adopted from the Humane Society. Grendel and Amir are strays we took into our home. Amir escapes often, and we're on his fifth collar, but he keeps coming home.

I should point out....we aren't in the business of stealing other people's cats. There are many other kitties in this neighborhood that don't wear collars. (Like Charlie and Dr. Fine.) We communicate with our neighbors and ask who is who. Amir was being fed by two other people and we all kept asking each other if he was their cat. No one has claimed ownership. I still expect someone to come to my door to claim him, even though he's been here since November. 

What makes me so crazy for my cats? They are perfect. They fit into my lifestyle in such a way that they make all things better. Bad day? Cuddle a cat. Great day? Kiss your cat. Any day, greeted by a loving cat. Cat doesn't greet you? Find them and watch how peaceful they look as they sleep and get your Squee on. Did I mention how cute they all are? Have you ever really seen an ugly cat? Even the ugly ones will pluck at your heart. Sometimes, it's the especially ugly ones. I don't know. I've never seen a cat I thought was unattractive.

Cats poop in a box, making clean up easy. Cats don't need to be walked. Most cats are low maintenance, requiring food, love and occasional brushings and play time. 

Every cat (or other pet for that matter) has their own personalities and precious quirks that will delight you. 

I get a Happy when Freya falls asleep in my arms and shoves her face in my armpit. 

I get a Happy when Grendel raises his head for nose pets and shows me his Teefs. 

I get a Happy when Amir chirps from another room and when I answer, he runs to me and hops on the couch or desk to hang out with me. He looks so excited to see me.

I get a Happy when they greet me at the door when I come home from work. I love to hear their voices. Do you see? They bring me joy everyday by existing. Sometimes I just look at them and marvel how these gorgeous little creatures choose to live with me. 

Honestly, how often do you have an argument with your pet? Can you trust them with your secrets? When was the last time they asked to borrow money? Cat, dog, horse or hamster, a pet's love is PURE.

So why are women like me called crazy for our love and devotion?  Thanks to social media, it's not that big a thing anymore. Thousands upon thousands of people show their cat love everyday on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, everywhere. The Crazy Cat Lady name is becoming a thing of the past, but...

I am a Crazy Cat Lady and I am proud.