Cats: How I've learned from one
We have all heard the cliché that it takes a village to raise a child. Most times, when this statement is said, the object in question was of human origin. However, this statement is true among cat owners. Dog connoisseurs will tell you that they dislike cats because they are not affectionate, fun and tend to have more of an independent nature about them than their beloved canine friends. My response to these critics is: you have not met Marlowe. Some of the instances I will share with you may seem unbelievable or worthy of judgment, but I promise you they are all true. Some of the behavior I explain initially may seem like normative cat behavior, but I think you will see how Marlowe’s behavior is far from being normal.
Biography
He’s red, he’s fluffy and mischievous. You cannot ignore how intelligent, innovative, and determined he is. His hobbies include hanging out on the cat tree, doing his hair, and getting his beauty rest. When he is not busy, he works in special ops to infiltrate and dismantle the canine unit. Do not be fooled by his charm. Behind those beautiful eyes is a wild streak that will steal your heart and all your pens. As much as he loves being admired by onlookers, he enjoys getting in trouble more. If you love mice, then he's your guy! He likes his mice like BonJovi, dead or alive. Meet Marlowe.
Instances in action
Once Marlowe got settled in our home, we soon realized that Marlowe was a cat of high taste. He would always go after our glasses of water on the counter when he was thirsty. It was not some random coincidence but instead was fueled by a specific purpose. After making some observations based on his behavior, we realized that Marlowe refused to drink out of the water bowl once the dogs drank out of it. Long story short, Marlowe ended up getting his own special glass of water, perfectly filled to the top, that sits in the middle of the countertop, high away from the dogs. Before you begin to judge me for spoiling my cat, I thought about what I would do if one of my brothers took my drink away from me (while I was drinking it) and began to slurp it down. I certainly would not want that back! They could gladly keep it, especially after putting their faces into it. Understanding where my cat was coming from, I made his dreams come true, and now every morning, Marlowe expects his glass filled to the top with fresh cold water, or else he threatens to knock it over. I thought this preference was remarkable as I started to recognize how my cat was acting like a human.
Antics
Unlike the other cats in the house, Marlowe is extremely curious. He learns by watching and looks to mimic behavior. I realized this after I saw him trying to open up his treats. Our family decided to place them in an old sauce jar with a screw-on top. While Marlowe at that time was unable to open the jar, he situated his furry little paw on the top and began to move it in circular motions in a clockwise direction in an attempt to open it. It was one of the first instances that left me intrigued, and it was not the last. It was not long before he figured out how to open up the kitchen cabinets. Each night, Marlowe would begin his adventure systematically opening up all the cabinets, removing all of the towels, and disperse them all over the floor. Some nights he would get creative and chew holes in all of our Ziploc bags. We were not aware of this behavior until my grandmother attempted to put some eggs in one of these plastic bags.
Operation Marlowe
Our family has struggled to balance the interests of our family and the interests of our cat. While we were astonished by Marlowe's capabilities, we wanted to have some order in our home. My aunt tried to get the upper hand and strategically deal with Marlowe in a productive way. She proceeded to put child locks on all the cabinets. If it could stop a curious toddler, it could surely stop Marlowe. Right? Wrong. Not only did he figure out how to open the cabinets and get through the child locks on some of the more challenging cabinets, but he also ended up breaking the child locks altogether. We all had different approaches to dealing with the situation, but they all somehow resulted in him winning. Our reactions to his behavior seemed to magnify the problem. He seems to find happiness in our frustration. No matter what we did we could not contain him. Operation Marlowe was a lost cause.
Takeaway
Although I have lost more battles than I have won, Marlowe has taught me a lot. While these stories are funny, they truly did teach me how miraculous animal life is. Do not get me wrong, even though his antics and behavior have made me frustrated and annoyed countless times I would not ask for different experiences. Having both observed and dealt with his antics has allowed me to view animals differently. Marlowe reminds me that animals are intelligent, curious, have unique personalities, and have feelings. In my case, these factors have allowed me to better interact with animals, especially with Marlowe. Marlowe has since become my son and one of the things my world revolves around. I guess it's fair to say I see him as my human counterpart. While not everyone may agree with some of my decisions, the takeaway is that perhaps we have a lot to learn from our furry friends. Our animals can help shape the way we see the world and remind us to hide our belongings and sleep with one eye open.
Image obtained from Squarespace
