Newsletter for Cat Lovers November 2007 vol.2 no.11
Cat news from
Cat Lover Gifts World
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"Excuse me... are you going to read that??"
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Brrrr.... Winter's in the Air
Winter's a good time to check the navel barometer.
Time to close the windows, change your heating system filters and pull out the winter blankets, sweaters and muffin socks. It's also a time to consider things that we don't understand.
And bring the cat inside.
What better picture of domestic tranquility is there than the sight of a cat napping in the window of a comfy home, framing a snow covered countryside. But, is this image becoming one of the last vestiges of both the social and personal icons of peace, security; an image that begs the eternal question of "what's this life all about, anyway"?
There some who claim this idealistic image is fast becoming a relic from an ancient civilization, long lost after being gobbled up in the speed obsessed, all-consuming rush of a technology that has absconded with our youthfulness and our children. It's replacing our hopes and dreams with 15 to 30 second commercial teases of happiness that tell us our joys can only be obtained with a single purchase of 'their' product; until it breaks or wears out and then we are 'sold' on a newer, better version of the 'perfection' which can easily be owned with the simple swipe of a credit card. This consumerism is stealing everyone away with the promise of a questionable, virtual utopia that never seems close or real. Only a possibility on an oversized LCD screen.
Candy for the senses.
Warning: This candy should come with the disclaimer that it can cause myopia, blindness and/or insensitivity and numbness to organic reality.
But, what does this have to do with cats?
For one thing, cats can remind us that we're people. Living creatures filled with all the vagaries that go with an organic existence:
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When a cat looks at you and mouths a silent 'meow'... you can see her lips move, but you don't hear anything. The mystery of this motility causes one to wonder about the things that happen in our lives that we just don't completely understand. Without all five of our senses experiencing an event, we are left feeling incomplete. Moreover, we are left with the task of finding the missing piece of a puzzle. The challenge is to put the picture together on our own, without being told what the finished result should be; the challenge to learn the joy of enlightenment through epiphany. When she looks at you with those large, dilated eyes and speaks that silent 'meow', she's really saying, "Hey you, slow down and take a look around. There's lots going on around you that you're missing".
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Speaking of her eyes, can anyone resist following her gaze when she has it fixed on something? There's no concentration that can match a cat's visual focus. Nothing can escape the line between her eyes and her objective. If people had that kind of concentration, there'd be no problem or dilemma that couldn't be overcome. Then, one must be aware that there is more to solving problems than a mere singular focus of concentration.
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Watching a cat stalk is an amazing sight. She seems to move without moving. Her approach to a prey is so perfectly motionless she can place herself within striking distance in a such manner that time itself seems to stand still. Between silent, swift bursts of motion there are long moments of pure stillness. During those moments of stillness, time is suspended, leaving her prey to wonder what has changed. "Did that cat statue move? It wasn't there a moment ago. I know something's different, but I don't know what". What is really perplexing is when does a cat know to move without being detected? She seems to know exactly when her prey is distracted enough for her to move closer; then, when to stand perfectly still. All animals eyes are stimulated by motion and cats seem to know this better than any of them, and use it to her own advantage. How often do you stand perfectly still, doing nothing but absorbing the things going on around you?
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Cats understand the value of good maternity. A kitten raised improperly will probably not survive successfully, if at all. Youth needs to be guided, taught boundaries and shown how to respect other's boundaries. Mother cats (Queens) in the wild have precious little time to teach their brood the things they need to know. Kittens have to learn quick and the Queen is definite about the knowledge they need to survive. She's quick to scold, but doesn't hold anything back regarding her affection, encouragement or devotion. Meaningful maternity is evident in all mother cats which is the secret to perpetuation of a superior species.
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Cats know when to be social, but are perfectly comfortable with their solitary individualism. It speaks of a self-confidence and assuredness that says being alone is not the same as being lonely. If one is lonely, then they may feel incomplete, fearful of the unknown and unsafe in their natural environment. Healthy self-confident individuals allows for one to feel as one with the world, to be a part of it and not separated from their environment. Moreover, there's a distinct difference between self-confidence and a self-absorbed egocentric. Mostly self-confidence means one doesn't need to prove anything to anyone except themselves which allows for an elevated sense of peace and easy acceptance of the unknown.
Cats remind us that all the plug-ins available today cannot give us the security or understanding one needs to survive with a fulfilling and happy life. Technology is too perfect. Answers are easy to come by and there's little variance in the results. Life is filled with difficult questions, even questions that aren't known to even exist. Answers are never simple or definite. There are continually misting shades of gray where sometimes the answer becomes the question and vice-versa. And who hasn't experienced the phenomenon when the question becomes it's own answer.
Life. Always a question... rarely an answer.
The nobility of the cat is her acceptance of her fate. Granted, she has been given some superior tools that aids in her survival. And she has learned to use them well enough to give her a sense of confidence obvious to anyone. Yet, she has a peace about her that comes with her complete acceptance of things as they are. She knows when to run or attack. She sleeps when she's tired and eats when she's hungry. She's just as comfortable by herself napping under a shady tree or getting scratched behind the ears. There's no rush to get from the cradle to the grave. Just enjoy the ride.
Except when those crazy things start to move across the TV screen. How do you catch a bunch of electronic images?
See you next time
Robert J Gallegos
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Oh image of myself... can you tell me what it's all about? Or are you just all wet!!
You know, all that TV can make you coo-coo berries!
I don't know why people are always running around... these things are stinky!
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