I'm going out on a limb and guessing that pets have been discussed here before, so I'm probably beating a dead horse, but my cats haven't been mentioned yet, and since I spend a great deal of my day herding them--and using that as an excuse to not be writing--I think they should be shared. I accidentally managed to upload a photo of Mel and me for the blog in the beginning, which shocked both of us, but tonight we've had a dickens of a time uploading a shot of our cats. If this works, which it may not, the picture you see--if it isn't Mel and me--is Data at the top of the picture, Teddy Bear in the middle, and Hobbit the Fat at the bottom.
I'm not a cat person. I love dogs. I'm an animal lover, but never went out of my way to get a cat as a pet. One day a few years ago, however, I was so stressed about so many things going on in my life that I told Mel, out of the blue, that I would just love to have a cat in my arms right that minute to hug. There's something about the movements of a cat that are relaxing...unless it's the cat scratching fleas on the bed. That's NOT relaxing.
Now, mind you, I did NOT pray for a cat to enter my life. In fact, Mel went right out that very day and bought me a cat statue. Somehow, God heard me and apparently took those words as a request. Ever since that day, cats have sought me out like a heat seeking missile seeks out burning jet fuel. We've had a feral mother cat feeding her babies on our front porch, we've rescued a baby kitten from a busy Walmart parking lot, and we've placed ourselves in danger when we allowed a cute, cuddly cat into the house for an evening, and then tried to get her to go back out into the cold winter night. Those claws were NOT cute!
But we've been blessed by loving life in our home, and animals that love to be where we are, not because they want something from us, but just because they seem to like our company.
I've had pets of all kinds, from horses to dogs--lots of dogs--to cats to skunks and pigs. What have been some of your pets, and how have they impacted your life?
Labels: cats, pets
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Okay, the picture didn't post on the initial blog. Let's see if it posts here. If not, I give up. LOL!!!
Well, okay, it did finally post. I just wish I remembered how we did it!
A friend of mine told a story about how she found two oppossums in her basement and pretty much made pets of them, feeding them and even calling them Mr. O and Mrs. O. So funny!
When I was a kid, we had a pet squirrel that we raised from a baby in our home. He had a huge cage, was housebroken and we let him out to play in the living room and we fed him sunflower seeds! His name was Wiggles. Lived to be about eight years old!
LOL. Okay, Barb and Diann. possums and squirrels. Why am I NOT surprised? What else would we expect from our wild group. My grandma had a pet squirrel, too, when I was growing up. My mother got bitten by an oppossum, but that doesn't count. My daddy was the one who had the pet skunk for me...oh, yeah, and a bat that gave birth in a jar he caught her in. I released them all. Our class had pet snakes in California. They were kind of fun. We played with them out in the grass. One day one of the snakes got loose in the classroom and wrapped itself around the wall clock.
Oh they are too cute! I love cats too. Growing up we had dachshunds, baby raccoons, even a skunk! LOL
Oh, that's right, Mel and his brothers rescued baby raccoons and raised them on the farm. And a skunk, Colleen, you're a farm girl. We love our animals.
I grew up with raccoons, red foxes, squirrels, the occasional cat, a skunk, monkey-face barn owls, a dog, a bob cat, a coyote, and parakeets. We actually drove from our home in California to Arkansas to visit relatives with a baby raccoon we were raising. With my daughter, it was all kinds of lizards, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, and many, many dogs - she showed dogs from the time she was 12 years old. Even competing in Westminster. Now, I'm happy to say our home consists of a 17 year old cat (my princess Kameko), a 4 year old English Setter, Rudy & a 3 year old Blue & Gold Macaw, Mango.
All right! A woman after my own heart. We really are animal lovers in this group. I feel right at home.
Is Data named after "Data" from Star Trek TNG? Just curious. I am a Trekkie.
My very best friend in the whole world was my beloved Shadowbear. He was a huge siamese/persian mix. And I loved him more than words can say. I was 15-years-old when I rescued him. And he was with me when I was sick, my heart was broken, when I was happy, etc. And to this day he is the only cat that I know of that chased you if you made him mad enough! LOL! He was almost human in his emotions. Very expressive. When I got married and moved to Arkansas, yep, we flew in the little guy on an airplane! A few years later, my precious, precious baby was murdered by a dog. Almost 11 years have passed and I still mourn my kitty. I even got a tattoo to honor him. No other cat has ever taken his place. And believe there have been many kitties in my home, but none come close to my Bear. On the day that he died, I clipped some of his fur and placed it in a photo album.
Thank you for letting me share this. I love my cat and I hope that I will see him in heaven one day.
I know what you mean about wanting that cat to be in heaven. I like what Randy Alcorn has to say about animals in heaven in his book Heaven. When we had to put my little Prissy Lou to sleep, I was devastated. I was comforted by the fact that she was out of pain and I would see her again someday.
I am so glad we are talking about pets. I have 3 Maltese, 16-14 and 11. The oldest is dying tonight and my husband is at work. Even though he doesn't want her to be taken to the vet, I think if I could drive I would take her myself. She has been such a good mom, bringing 14 puppies into the world and lots of love to families. I know God cares that I am hurting because she is dying.
A stray cat is ours, I guess. First, I just gave water, then some food, then let her in for a nap and now she curls up next to me as I use the computer. Ads haven't found her owner, but she is declawed, so I know she has one. I don't have a name, yet, they just don't seem to fit. Still thinking...
At night, as I 'put her out', she always gives a flip of her tail as she walks away, just to let me know she would rather stay curled up in the house. Needs to wait a little longer until I can trust her, though.
When asked by my granddaughter if our pets went to heaven (she had lost her little hamster), I reminded her that God did create them first. God talks quite a bit about animals in heaven!
You did a great job posting the picture, Cheryl. I, too, push buttons and then don't know how to do it the next time. I eventually figure it out.
Pets so enrich our lives, give comfort and laughter, and make us kinder human beings. Thanks again, for reminding us!
Cheri, I feel so badly for you. Watching your animal die is heartbreaking, and it's so comforting to know that they, too, will be in a better place. As for cats, I had a lot of concerns about allowing cats in the house, and discovered early on that they are automatically litterbox trained. None of our cats are declawed, because they all like to go outside from time to time, and they have to be able to defend themselves against other cats and wandering dogs. Without claws, they can't climb to get away. The bad thing about claws is that they like to sharpen them on the furniture, so we don't have any nice furniture. LOL
Hi Cheryl,
Just wanted to let you know our little Maltese dog Katie died on Monday. Her two little daughters Keisha and Rosie are still feeling lost without her. So am I. She had 14 puppies over the years and was the best mommie ever.
I have named our no longer stray cat, "Tinkerbell" or "Tinker". We bought a bell to attach to her collar, and I hear it long before I can see her coming!
The other night I could hear her but not couldn't see her. I happened to look up and she was peering at me over the roof! Forgetting it was 2 a.m., I yelled loudly, "Don't jump"! I hurried o to the tree at the edge of the house, and she followed along the roof line and literally slid down the tree. Was she happy to get inside that night! We have no idea how she got up the tree without any claws.
Personally, I would never have a cat declawed. She has to have a family somewhere but I have advertised and gotten no response. At this point, I think I would be very disappointed if she no longer slept close by as I type on my laptop. I think God knew I had a room in my heart for her.
Thanks so much for letting us share about our wonderful pets.
Cheri
Cheri, grieving with you about your precious pet. Just do as I do and remember she's happier now than she's ever been. You'll miss her, but she has left a great legacy. Still, take time to grieve.
Praying for your healing. I'm not going to preach about how suffering makes us stronger in Him. It can, but it doesn't always necessarily work that way. We have to turn to Him and ask for His strength. For me, I long for the next life. Not suicidal, but as CS Lewis put it--or rather paraphrasing--I long for my native country. While I'm here, I'll do what I'm called--or try to, with His help. Hang in there, Cheri. There is a Native Country, and this ain't it.
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