Lately, many of my friends have been grieving the loss of their beloved pets.
The first time I saw that phrase used was on social media, not in casual conversation. I didn't ask what that meant because I didn't want to seem stupid. I thought it might have something to do with the LGBTQ community or “The Wizard of Oz.” It turns out that it can be traced back to fragments of poetry and even further back in history to Norse legend.
All you really need to know is that it means your pet has died and gone to heaven. The premise is that someday you and your pet will be reunited.
Some people can't understand why their friends are so upset when they lose a pet. They roll their eyes and say, “It’s just a cat!” Or, referring to someone who can't bear to go to work or socialize at a bar with friends, they'll comment, “Lord, stop it!” Many people don't understand that pets are part of the family. Pets are just as important as humans in some circles, and for good reason. Pets don't lie or cheat, but they may occasionally steal grubs from your plate.
Pets accept you for who you are. They won't criticize you, but they may retaliate against you for something you did or didn't do. They are apolitical, so they don't disparage people from the opposing party. However, my cat once hissed when President Trump appeared on TV a few years ago. We thought it was because the man suddenly made a loud noise that the cat didn't like. The same goes for my cell phone's ringtone to my husband. This is Pink Floyd's “Wish You Were Here.”
Some pets are very affectionate. They want to sit on your lap and purr. Or, in the case of dogs, occasionally letting out a satisfied groan. Of course they will ask for food, but they will depend on you just like a child would. This is especially true for dogs, which are not as self-sufficient as cats. Both species drink water from toilets and tear up bread left on the table. However, dogs won't necessarily eat humans if humans cross the rainbow bridge first. Cats are known for digging and picking out the best parts.
A narrow-minded person who cannot understand deep attachment to animals has probably never had a pet that they loved beyond measure. For many people, pets are their children. This is especially true if they don't have children or have an empty nest. In my opinion, if you have a pet, it belongs in a home with people. If the temperature is in the single digits and the water in the bowl is frozen, would you want to be cooped up in a kennel, even if it has straw on the floor? I kind of doubt it. . When it comes to cats, some of your friends will probably get mad if you point out the obvious fact that free-roaming cats can decimate bird populations. They don't understand that we like to obsess over rats and other pests.
Long ago, dogs and cats formed alliances with neighboring human tribes. The relationship was more or less symbiotic. Dogs acted as guardians around fire pits, keeping out other more dangerous creatures, and in return they ended up gnawing on human bones and other debris. As for cats, history books record that they agreed to keep their granaries relatively rat-free in exchange for apparently simple worship. You've probably seen statues of the Egyptian goddess Bastet. Come to think of it, you may have also seen the dog-headed Anubis. Egyptians knew something Americans didn't.
As most of you know, Chris and I have a white cat. The beast came when Cole was still in high school and was named Zeus by Cole. He is better known by his simple nickname, “White Cat.” He is quite old. According to Purina's graph, cats are 18 and a half years old, which is over 90 years old in human years. That means he's eligible to run for president, and I guarantee you he won't do any worse than some of the politicians we've been forced to put up with in recent years.
This time last year, I commented to him that I knew I didn't have much time left. He knew a cat who lived to be 23 years old, by which time he was blind, lame, and urinating on himself. I don't want incontinence in cats or humans. A few years ago, my white cat started picking off her fur. He is now off it for a while before starting this OCD behavior again. On weekends, I allow him to sunbathe on the upstairs deck and he indulges in “spraying” in the corner there with a straw broom. I put the verb in quotation marks because when he goes about his business with his tail up and shivering, he's being castrated. In other words, he just thinks he's spraying. He actually does projectile pee. He also spends a considerable amount of time sniffing the broom and then continues to lie next to it for hours. I don't know the reason for this.
When in the house, the white cat prefers to sit on the husband's lap. At the beginning of her marriage, Chris claimed to hate cats, but like many men, this was just his pretense. Chris may be more upset than I am when this cat crosses the bridge – and that's saying something.
So, here's a suggestion. Don't get annoyed or make fun of your friend if he or she has set up a great store with a pet. There are many reasons why people don't keep pets. Inconvenience and expense are two things. But those who don't, like Since the animal is most likely a sociopath, you That may be the problem.And if your friend's animal doesn't like it youthen you are definitely the problem.
