5 Things Cats Know
If it’s worth going up to the door, it’s worth going through. Cats are wholly committed to whatever they do. Once they have a goal, they…
Picture by Claudia Stack, do not reuse without permission
If it’s worth going up to the door, it’s worth going through. Cats are wholly committed to whatever they do. Once they have a goal, they pursue it fully until they attain it (or until someone locks them in a bathroom to calm down). I know I could grow in this area of wholehearted commitment. There are things that I do that have the outward appearance of commitment, but would get better results if I really went all in. For example, my son and I go to the gym on a regular basis. My son does a very intense workout with a trainer, while I walk on the treadmill. I do put the treadmill on the maximum incline, so it’s as if I’m walking briskly uphill the whole time. BIG DEAL. I have let the fear of aggravating an old shoulder injury get in the way of doing a vigorous upper-body workout. Cats don’t let apprehension get in their way. They operate on a the principle of “if I want the lizard, I go for the lizard 100%.”
Picture by Claudia Stack, do not reuse without permission
Sometimes you just need to relax and be here now. At times the most productive thing you can do is not do, but just be. Cats are unapologetic masters of being. They surrender completely to the moment. Here is a partial list of things that do not worry a cat: The email he didn’t send. The fact that dinner isn’t even started. That unpaid bill. Nor that great, unanswerable question: If ammonia is what makes his pee smell bad, why do humans use it as a household cleaner?
Picture by Claudia Stack, do no reuse without permission
Listening more than you talk is the key to attraction. Notice the cat on the bar stool. His gaze is steady. His body is relaxed, showing he’s not in a hurry to leave the conversation. His expression is attentive but neutral, not judgmental. You can be sure that he never goes home alone from the bar, because his listening skills are magnetic. The same dynamic works with people. If you want to connect with people, ask gentle questions and then listen. Really listen.
Picture by Claudia Stack, do not reuse without permission
Travel light. A cat knows that he really only needs a carry-on, and half of that should be filled with snacks and water. A cat knows that Lycra and fleece are gifts from God. A cat knows that it’s okay to wear the same outfit day in and day out, as long you clean it. He also knows that lots of luggage weighs you down and can get lost, causing even more anxiety. Cats travel light. They enter new areas softly, so they don’t disturb the scene. They don’t worry about clothing they didn’t pack, or expensive clothing they don’t even own. They just show up, and know that they are enough.
Picture by Claudia Stack, do not reuse without permission
Worry is useless. From birth, cats know something that took me years to realize: Worry is useless. In my experience, 99% of what I envisioned, good or bad, never actually came to pass in the same way that I thought it would. Don’t get me wrong, troublesome and even awful things did sometimes happen. They just weren’t the things I projected. So I took note of my cat’s attitude, and gave up worrying. I don’t think much about the future, except in the most general way. I don’t plan excessively. I just throw intentions out to the universe, and wait for them to come back. It is amazing how often they do. Once, I witnessed a masterful demonstration of this principle. I watched an elderly barn cat stare at a mouse until it actually ran right over to the cat. Then the cat leaned down, not even hurrying, and picked the mouse up with his teeth. The cat didn’t make a complex effort to pursue the mouse. He just held a pure, worry-free intention. I may not ever be that masterful. However, I do know that things rarely unfold as we think they will, so our mental energy is better spent lavishing good thoughts on the people and activities that make us purr in the present moment.