pets
by now, everyone who knows me knows how big a cat person I am. I love cats. not sure if they love me back though but it's okay I am still going to love them.
I was thinking about pets today. you know how so many of us have pets and those who don't have them, want to get one. why do we need pets though? why do we want them when let's be honest, they can be a hassle at times?
I don't know about you but I will talk about myself. It's been a month and a half since I have been away from my cat.
I got my first cat back in 2017 or 2018. I was in the tenth standard. It was an orange cat (you see I have always been a ginger cat mom). he unfortunately died. then we got two more cats. neither of them lived for too long. my family didn't take their death well. losing a pet is tough. mom decided not to ever get pets again.
but in September 2022, I received a call from my best friend asking if I wanted to adopt a kitten. I said yes, of course. she told me he was rescued and did not have a home. he was to be taken care of and who better than to take care of a little kitten than a whole family that loves cats.
I got him home the next day even though mom hadn't fully agreed. he was the size of a rat. a medium-sized one.
I have seen both worlds - one without a pet and one with a pet and there is just a slight difference between the two.
on a surface level, nothing really changes. everything is the same. all problems are still problems. your assignments are still due at midnight, your internship still doesn't pay as much, and your boyfriend-who-is-not-your-boyfriend still gives you mixed signals.
but now you have a rat-sized kitten in your room who needs to be fed milk 15 times a day with a little spoon while you deal with life. he doesn't know your name. all he knows is that when he is hungry, you are the one who is going to feed him. and when his teeth are itchy, you are the one who is going to get bitten.
but anyway, coming to the point.
speaking for myself - this need to have a pet roots from the innate urge to have someone to devote myself to. I can't live for myself and myself only. that's not possible.
I need a little kitten whom I can feed, whose shit I have to clean, who depends on me and whom I can love with everything I have.
I can't stay out late at night because my cat is waiting for me at home. he wants to play with his laser pointer. it's important you see. I'm sorry let's cancel plans because my cat overate last night and puked so I want to take care of him today - just in case it happens again.
I want to sleep at night without feeling lonely. I want the little meow who has now grown a bit bigger, to lie on top of me and fall asleep knowing and trusting that he's safe with me. falling asleep to the sound of sweet purr is easier.
it's not about being a cat person or a dog person or a turtle person. it's about making someone other than yourself a priority. it's about living not only for yourself or any other human but for a ginger, white, black-patched carnivore.
get a pet. good night.