Smiling Cat

Part 1: What Has Your Pet Taught You? by da-AL

Posted on by da-AL
Smiling Cat
Image courtesy of Gidion Lubbe at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Happiness was mine…

My loved ones were all content and healthy, I lived in a beautiful home, and I had just married an incredible man.

Little did I know…

I could be even happier! Moreover, my happiness teachers would be furry!

The cats were my idea…

My husband has every reason to loathe cats.

  1. They make his eyes run.
  2. His throat gets scratchy whenever they’re too close.
  3. If he pets one, his nose itches and worse.

Wonderfulness that he is, he agreed to adopt some. He even quickly fell in love with our felines!

Back then, while all animals charmed me, but…

I was an avowed cat lover. Cats are gorgeous, and better yet, they require minimal attention.

Dogs, I thought, were cute, but didn’t merit all the bother that owning one comes with. They need to be walked daily. They chew valuables and slobber. If you don’t train them, they’ll jump passersby and bark way too much. Some are biters!

Black Kittens
Image courtesy of Tina Phillips at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Cat hater?…

In my experience, cats are terrific!!! They’re lovely, low-maintenance, and fun! Sure, one out of a million is neurotic, but those are in the minority.

My husband loves dogs best!

Given that he had agreed to our two cats, perhaps it was only right to get a dog.

*** Here’s part two and part three to this post. ***

What, dear reader, has your pet taught you?…

Discover more from Happiness Between Tales (and Tails) by da-AL

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Published by da-AL

Happiness Between Tails speaks to and from the heart. It connects lovers — of pets, authors, books — and of my still-unreleased novels, “Flamenco + the Sitting Cat” and “Tango + the Sitting Cat.” The stories are my love letters to all who fear they're too odd, too damaged, too old, too whatever to find happiness. ContactdaAL@gmail.com • BuyMeACoffee.com/SupportHBT

72 thoughts on “Part 1: What Has Your Pet Taught You? by da-AL”

  1. Good morning and thanks for the nice article dear da-Al. There is one antique, feral reason why certain men inexplicably fear cats, even thought hey are usually cute, well-behaved and low maintenance at home. In our prehistoric times, women stayed inside the caves to take care of the family and the sacred fire ( those boisterous feminazis had not been born yet) and men went outside in a large group to hunt a mammoth or similar game. However every so often one of those hunters that strayed behind was suddenly attacked by a pride of humongous saber-tooth tigers and eaten outright. Do not laugh! It’s true (I saw it in one of my visionary dreams) By the way, how come you did not read my latest farewell blog for our little vacation? Oh, I know…You might be one of those vegans that do not tolerate carnivores like moi ( and your husband, dear)
    Un baccione. Ciao!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Glad you enjoyed it, Mario.

      The photo looks like an Argentine bbq, where nothing is wasted, which is good if one is going to sacrifice a creature for one’s meal.

      I’m pescatarian, though vegetarian leaning.

      It’s indeed difficult to juggle book writing with blogging, so I will miss you but understand & wish you alll the best with your second book 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Good morning and thanks for your commentary, dear. Yes, it is the kind of grilling that we do in Uruguay, Argentina and Southern Brazil where we eat almost all the cow. In fact there is a special treat called “asado con cuero” where a whole cut open in the middle and fixed upright with several steel poles is slowly grilled for 5-6 hours and gives a super-tender meat. I did not know what a “pescatarian” was and I just looked it up. It seems to be a middle-of-the-road reasonable compromise between the need for some meat with proteins and vitamins and the need to eat more veggies in your diet. I must confess that I gave up eating red meat a few years ago , except on a weekend cookout or when I visit my folks in the River Plate. Besides my kids and my guests eat most of the barbecued meats you see in the grill and I’m just happy to watch them with a smile. I won’t abandon you as I will occasionally peek at your page, dear.
        Un grosso baccione. Ciao.

        Liked by 1 person

  2. I like both, cats and dogs, but find cats more practical when you are working away from home all day. Dogs are more practical in the way that you can take them with you.

    I had my cat for 16 years and cried buckets when he died.

    What did he teach me? That there are animals who are are capable of thought. I define it as observation, absorbing information (treatment of information) and then coming up with a conclusion. That astonished me a lot! My cat also used a pencil held by his front paws to scratch himself on the neck, you know, the spot cats usually can’t reach. I stood with my mouth open, when I saw that.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. o-m-g lololol — you always share the best observations, dear Stella 🙂

      my mom’s cat (who used to be my husband’s lol) used to play fetch! now that she’s old & only has one tooth left, she still has quite an appetite for anything & everything 🙂

      everything you said about cats vs dogs is true, though I have 50 lb dogs, so they’re not as ‘portable.’ on the other hand, I absolutely abhor how kitty litter is impossible to corral…

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Haha, my cat played fetch as well when he was a kitten, until he found out it was much more fun to hide somewhere and dash out at the passing ball and let me get it back myself, because then he could use the time I went after the ball to find a new hiding place … 😉 … I tell you, there were things going on in his head … 😀

        Liked by 1 person

  3. I think this would apply for any pet…. 🙂

    JUST MY DOG
    He is my other eyes that can see above
    the clouds;
    my other ears that hear above
    the winds. He is the part of me that can
    reach out into the sea.

    He has told me a thousand times over that
    I am his reason for being:
    by the way he
    rests against my leg; by the way he thumps
    his tail at my smallest smile;
    by the way he
    shows his hurt when I leave without taking him.
    (I think it makes him sick with worry when he
    is not along to care for me.)

    When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive.
    When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile.
    When I am happy, he is joy unbounded.
    When I am a fool, he ignores it.
    When I succeed, he brags.
    Without him, I am only another man. With him,
    I am all-powerful.
    He is loyalty itself.
    He has taught me the meaning of devotion.
    With him, I know a secret comfort and a
    private peace. He has brought me understanding
    where before I was ignorant.
    His head on my knee can heal my human hurts.
    His presence by my side is protection against
    my fears of dark and unknown things.
    He has promised to wait for me…
    whenever…wherever–in case I need him.
    And I expect I will–as I always have.
    He is just my dog.
    Author Gene Hill…

    Liked by 1 person

  4. A lovely post. Pets really do make a difference to our lives, whether cat, dog or hamster! 🙂
    In one word, my pet has taught me “Patience!”
    All the rest was freely given: unconditional love, comfort, companionship, exercise, smiles.

    Liked by 1 person

          1. I think it would break peoples’ hearts. Let me think about it but I’m way behind my South America posts!

            I only have a couple of photos of one local that was actually taking care of about 8 stray dogs – it was back in 2016 when we volunteered for 3 months. She was so lovely and this act of kindness is unheard of in Thailand.

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