Cats are not renowned for their love of sharing things that are important to them, but when three cats are forced to share one human, compromises must be made for the sake of preserving domestic tranquility.
Fortunately, after countless hours of negotiations and treaty-making, Siouxsie, Thomas and Bella were able to arrive at a Mama-sharing schedule that all three find satisfactory. The result of my cats’ diplomatic triumph is that each of them has a time with me that belongs just to them, and I get to spend almost every moment I’m home feeling that I’m very special to that particular cat.
My day usually begins with time at my desk checking my email and Facebook news feed. Once I’ve finished my breakfast, it’s time for Bella to join me and help me to catch up with my morning correspondence. Some people would probably find this assistance inconvenient because it involves Bella parking herself in my lap until she feels it’s time for me to take an ergonomics break and spend some time petting her.
But honestly, how could I be upset? She’s right; I do need to take ergonomics breaks, and what better way to do it than petting a cat who shows her appreciation for my healthy work habits by rewarding me with her amazing locomotive purrs?
After Bella has finished her turn in my lap and moved on to rest atop the cat tree, it’s Thomas’s shift. His ergonomic assistance comes in the form of draping himself over my arm like a giant wet noodle. Sure, it’s really not all that ergonomic since it puts more strain on my wrists rather than less, but it is a great distraction. It’s also hella cute.
As soon as everyone has finished their supper, it’s Siouxsie’s turn for special Mama time. As soon as my feet are up and a movie is playing on the TV, she hops into my lap and settles in for a petting session and a nap while I run my hands through her silky fur and feel the vibration of her gentle purr under my fingers.
Naturally, Siouxsie’s moment alone on my lap can’t last forever. Thomas and Bella can’t help but lose their patience after a while, and then the love hogging commences.
Alas, no matter how much I’d love to stay in my chair with a lap full of purring kitties, I have to go to sleep eventually. But despite the fact that I must cruelly eject the cats in order to go to bed, the special feline moments are not done yet.
The minute I pull down the blankets and get ready to climb into bed, Thomas runs across the room, takes a flying leap onto the mattress, and flings himself into my hands for an orgy of purring, head-rubbing, licking and rolling around so I don’t miss a single one of his favorite petting spots. This could continue for an hour if I let it, but usually I have to stop after about 10 minutes so I can get a decent night’s sleep.
At that point, everybody gets to share. Thomas sprawls on my stomach so his heart is right next to mine and his tiny little ticker and mine can keep happy rhythms together. Siouxsie dives under the blankets and curls up between my left arm and my chest, and Bella paces back and forth across the bed for a little while and settles in next to my feet.
And all four of us go to sleep, knowing all is right with the world.
What kinds of special moments do you share with your cats? If you have more than one cat, how does the person-sharing situation work out in your home? Share your thoughts and your stories in the comments.
Check out some cuteness with Catster:
- Could You Learn to Love a Cat With No Eyes?
- So There Was That One Time a Cat Was Raised by Ferrets
- Gift Guide: 10 Cat-Themed Stocking Stuffers for the Family
About JaneA Kelley: Punk-rock cat mom, science nerd, animal shelter volunteer and all-around geek with a passion for bad puns, intelligent conversation, and role-play adventure games. She gratefully and gracefully accepts her status as chief cat slave for her family of feline bloggers, who have been writing their award-winning cat advice blog, Paws and Effect, since 2003.
