NOTE: Please copy and paste into Google Translate to
listen if needed.
I've always loved pets.
We got our first cat, Goldy, when my daughters were about five and three
years old. We got our dog Cosmo when our
daughters were about 12 and ten years old.
When we had to put our cat Goldy down, a year ago last June, I knew I
wanted to get another cat. We now have
Maisy, who is about two years old. We've never had any serious behavior issues
with Maisy or Cosmo (nor did we with Goldy), and although they still haven't
figured out how to play together, they're quite peaceful together. Occasionally I think there's a bit of sibling
rivalry if one is getting attention, but it's never been a major issue.
I truly believe having a loving little animal in your
life makes it better, and if you're not a cat OR dog person, I think having
some kind of pet is still a good thing.
However, if you are not in a position - whether because of finances, the
rules where you live, your health, or whatever - to take proper care of a cat
or dog, I DON'T think owning one is a good idea. Being a pet owner is a big responsibility -
not as much as a child - but a responsibility nonetheless. If you want to be around pets, and can't own
one, visit a shelter. The animals are
ALWAYS happy to get attention - though you should make sure you know the rules
of the shelter you visit. You can also
have a friend come over with their pet, or if that's not possible, go to
them. I've heard wonderful things about
how therapeutic horses can be, so visiting a stable is also something to think
about.
Having pets is even more important to me now that I have
my invisible disorders. I love to watch
them. Cosmo is a sweet, good natured 20
lb schnoodle (schnauzer and poodle) who would never be able to be a true
therapy dog. He gets much too excited
when he has the chance to meet someone new, but a therapy dog was never the
goal. I love the typical dog stuff - the
wonderful hello when we get home, the dog smiles (yes, dogs definitely smile)
when he's happy, the curving body when he's getting attention. I love watching him wriggle on his back with
his legs in the air, rub his sides against our couch - he LOVES to do that -
and the goofy way he rubs his ears on the floor after I put ear cleaner into
them!
Maisy is equally adorable. She's fun to watch doing goofy things, like
when she rolls over on her back, and then back over again just like a baby
figuring out about her body. She likes
to have her tummy rubbed, and of course her head and ears. Just like a toddler, we have to make sure she
doesn't get herself into any serious trouble, and it's funny when I lie on my
stomach doing what I call my "sphinx" Feldenkrais exercise, and she
rubs against my head. I don't think it matters
at all to her that it's my head rather than my legs, and it's adorable - even
though I can end up with a face full of fur.
She's completely cute and entertaining to watch doing typical cat stuff,
like chasing imaginary monsters, hunting a stray leaf or one of her cat toys.
When I watch Maisy and Cosmo, I notice how easily they
move their bodies, and wonder why we humans are so good at doing things that
don't work well for us. Unlike humans, cats
and dogs don't seem to develop bad habits with their bodies - they are able to
hold onto doing what works for them without even thinking about it. I know that dogs (and I think cats as well)
can develop balance problems, and of course other health problems, just like
humans. And it's true that occasionally a
cat or dog misses their mark with a movement, but it doesn't seem to bother
them. Far more often than humans, a cat
or dog will right themselves, and keep on moving uninjured.
I get very frustrated sometimes; I want to be able to
improve faster, and not have to deal with all the management and coping stuff
I've written about. I want my
improvement to be a consistent, straight, upward slope. But no matter how much I want that, I know it's
not going to happen. Long term rehab
just doesn't work that way. When I'm
feeling down or stressed, caught up in this emotional mess, a snuggle with Maisy
or Cosmo is guaranteed to make me feel better.
It's just - for me anyway - an instant stress reducer to feel those
warm, soft little bodies. They are my
babies, regardless of how old they are, and they make me feel better.
Maisy and Cosmo also remind me to be present. Dogs and cats don't think about what's going
to happen in an hour. Cats are a bit
more contemplative, and both animals get to know routines, but it's very
different than how humans plan.
Personally, I think being a bit more cat or dog like wouldn't hurt most
of us. That's one reason being with them
is a stress reducer for me - I'm just there, with them, and that's it.
