Feline Power: Cats Can Play The Game Too!
By Winston D. Munnings
31 December 2007
Truth be told, I was never a 'cat person' and neither was my wife, Jennifer. In fact, the very thought of us having a cat as a member of our household never came up. Frankly, it was not an issue because it simply was not going to happen...we thought.
As of late, however, we had been talking about getting a dog (at least I was) but that too was always short lived and quickly became ancient history as the topic changed to something more realistic. In fact, if you speak to my neighbor friend Bruce S., the very thought of Winston D. with a pooch always brought hysterical laughter accompanied by a ... Yes, Winston, I'll believe that when I see it. Bruce has every reason to snicker at the thought of me getting a dog, especially since I have been mouthing off about it for the last three years or so. But, back to the feline story.
Now we have a seven-year-old female live-in (rent-free) feline named Patience, and it feels strange because my wife and I have been an 'empty nest' couple ever since our youngest (Sabrina Amirah) left for University back in 1998. Until now, it was great because we went and came as we wish without regard (or concern) for anyone else including a pet. It took some adjustment though, and that's where the story begins.
In fact, Patience is my oldest daughter's (Indira Mandisa) cat, which she got from an animal shelter when Patience was just a little kitten. Early last year my daughter visited with us for about six months and brought her cat along. I was against the idea of having a cat in the house in the first place, but ultimately agreed. However, I made it quite clear that Patience's stay was definitely short-term. As it turned out, Patience was given a three months amnesty recently when my daughter returned to Washington DC in June. On this, I thought my wife and I were on the same page, but little did I know of the going's-on behind my back, as Patience (apparently) had her own agenda.
In retrospect, I should have seen this coming. After my daughter left, Patience and my wife had really bonded. Around Jennifer, Patience was like a starving rat in a cheese factory. Wherever Jennifer went in the house or outside on our patio, Patience was right on her heel like mildew. If she sat down to read the newspaper, Patience would soon be hopping up on the sofa purring for attention. Same thing happens whenever my wife lay on the bed, for example. Like a Stroke, Patience was right there on our bed pleading for belly rubs or a head massage.
Although I had overlooked this bonding which, I'm now convinced, was being forced on my wife by Patience herself, what I didn't overlook though was the fact that Patience didn't particularly like me. At least that's what I thought. And why not? It was how I truly felt. However, and in retrospect, my unfounded prejudices against cats probably got the better part of me in that (maybe) I was not giving Patience a chance to really get to know me. So I took the easy way out simply by thinking what I wanted to think ... namely, that Patience did not like men or me specifically.
I would attempt to play with her, but would bomb out at every turn. Even attempts at bribing her with treats my wife bought specially for her proved fruitless. Could not imagine why Patience was so unresponsive towards me. She would turn her head when I call out to her, or run away as if her tail was on fire whenever I approached her. But no, let Jennifer M. Munnings appear on the scene and like Dracula in a Blood Bank, Patience would become intoxicated by my wife's presence.
An incredible thing happened though soon after my daughter left. One night while my wife and I were in the family room watching a television program, in walked Patience strutting her stuff as if she owned the bloody place. This time she walked straight pass Jennifer and literally pranced at me landing right onto my lap. In astonishment, I looked at my wife and her at me as I said: "Holy S_____ did you see that? Patience was now rubbing her hairy little small head against my hand as if to be asking for a head rub which, I now know, she really likes.
My goodness, I wondered, what brought this on? I was seeing a different Patience and was bamboozled with her fraternizing. Could it be that she suspected I was arranging for her departure shortly after the Christmas holidays? Needless to say, a new relationship was about to start between Patience and me.
For the next three months, while planning for Patience's repatriation to Washington DC, both my wife and I had clearly gotten closer to her... especially my wife. She was now much more comfortable around me and, frankly speaking, I was bonding with her without fully realizing what was happening. I still feel however that she likes my wife much better, but that's OK, because at least (she appears) to like me too.
This past Christmas Indira & Sabrina came to visit with us with the clear understanding that when they returned Patience would be going back with Indira. Not any more. My wife made it quite clear that she wanted Patience to stay with us and guess what? So did I.
To make a long story short, all concerned agreed that patience would continue to stay with us here in South Florida, and continue to enjoy our patio where she spends most of her time as Feline of the Realm among the bugs and lizards and other patio kill that dared to cross her path.
When my wife and I are planning our day, it's always (now) with Patience in mind. We wonder about her eating properly and about her health now much more than we did before. Will I still be getting a dog? Hell Yes, and much sooner than my neighbor friend Bruce S., thinks even if I continue to mouth off about one day owning a pooch.
Ummmmmm! Wonder how Patience feels about having a dog in the house?
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