Everyday Canvas

Pets and Animals

Prompt: Pets and Animals
What is your relationship to your pets if you have any? And do you like animals in general?

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I have an old cat, Noche. In fact, in cat-age, she is as old as me. That makes us two old women under the same roof.

I adopted Noche when her previous owners were about to take her to a shelter since she couldn't get along with their other pets in the house and she was acting up. That they could give her up shocked me because I grew up with cats in the house as my aunt was a real cat-lady. In my later years, due to my husband's work, we traveled a lot. We didn't have any pets then, because it would be unfair to the animals; except for a dog, Joe, while our children were growing up.

It's said that cats have quirky behaviors. Maybe, this is somewhat true. All I can say is, cats are endearing, funny, and playful. Yet, my present cat is not very playful, but at this age, I am not all that playful, either. She was more playful four years ago when I first got her, but I guess she's feeling the age, as do I.

Noche never did the things some other cats do; for example, knocking items off the tables, sneaking into forbidden areas, or stealing food. Well, she does like to search and inspect the closets and has an obsession with whatever I am doing. She loves to explore my cellphone and books and note-books. Although, I got her several cat toys, she warmed up to none of them, except for a doll that was gifted to me as a gag. She is just in love with that doll. Then, she always answers to me and I actually talk to her while she listens. She is also very much into my moods and knows (I think) when I am sick.

Although I have now talked about Noche a lot, I have always loved animals, tamed and wild. Aside from the ways how each culture treats especially the wild ones and learns from them, in my experience, the love of animals begins in childhood. I was a very lucky child to have been introduced to the joy of interacting with pets and observing wildlife. In fact, now, my idea of heaven is where all the animal species are present and no one eats anyone else.