Owned by a Cat

It’s amazing how easy it is to fall in love with an animal. 

It’s been a few months since my son came home with “Bella” who was only about 5 weeks old at the time.  The second he put her in my hands, I knew she had a home. I’m not one that can walk away from a tiny, helpless animal.  It was the next day I took her to the vet because she had an upper respiratory infection that I knew I was hooked.  Homeless kittens frequently develop these upper respiratory infections and it can eventually kill them if not treated.  I decided to hold her in my lap while driving because she was so small and the vet was a short distance from my home.  She seemed content to calmly sit there while I drove.  When I came to a stop light I looked down at her and she was looking up at me with trusting love on her tiny little face.  It was such a precious look that I wished I could have captured it in a photo. 

Today she is almost 6 months old.  Like most cats who are sure of their owner’s love, she’s become a bit of a brat in her knowing that she can literally walk all over me.  She’s happy, healthy, has her brothers (a cat and dog) to play with, and a home. 

More than what I give to her, she gives to me love in return.  When an animal falls in love with a human, it is a special bond.  From the beginning of her life in our home, she has thought I was her mother.  She follows me from room to room, curiously has to be involved in whatever I’m doing, waits for me to open the bedroom door in the morning, and runs to me when she’s scared by an unfamiliar noise. How can anyone walk away from this kind of love?

Animals bring so much joy to our lives.  They love and trust us unconditionally. And once they feel that unconditional love for us, they are committed to us for life, frequently even when they are mistreated or neglected by their owners. This is the kind of love we all crave from humans…that unconditional soul love that is strong enough to pass the test of time and crisis.  Love from these precious little creatures is no different and should be treated with the same love and respect we have for humans.

I hope all of you take into your life a homeless animal and treat them with the same depth of love they give to you. The love you will get in return will by far make up for any expense. And please be responsible with their needs.