Okay, so…cats and people…Ginger Snap

I’ve fed lots of strays and feral cats.  None of them have been like Ginger Snap.  He was terrified, at first, a lot of cats are.  He started coming around last year but it was just now and then.  This summer he was here more often and then he simply moved into the yard. He started getting friendly with me.  He talked to me and started rolling around and making sweet cat noises and faces at me.  Then he started rubbing against me a little.  He started standing on his hind legs rubbing higher and not letting me walk.  He wound around me and kept arching his back and he let me touch him.  He was unpredictable.

The more comfortable he became, the more dominant he became.  He started terrorizing Emily.  She stopped eating and hid.  She started staying out longer and away from her bed. She was frightened and stressed.  He became bolder and bolder, attacking her while I was standing guard over her.  I started to belong to him and he was driving her out of her home.  He tried to bite and scratch me several times and I didn’t trust him.  I started wearing thicker clothing when I went outside.

I took him to the shelter.  I love Emily.  She’s my stray and I would do anything for her, including relocating Ginger Snap.  She’s finally getting back to her old happy self.  She’s still easily startled but she’s back to sitting on the patio and she comes home early.   We sit together and I pet her for long periods of time and play.  She does NOT want to come inside but I still keep trying.

Now, here’s the thing.  The squirrels have returned and so have the birds.  Today Em was sitting among the leaves watching the squirrels eat the peanuts I piled on the patio.  Emily is happy, the squirrels are happy, the birds are happy and so am I.

People are exactly like this.  Exactly.  Mean, and dominating people can drive others away and turn life from something beautiful into something tense, stressful and exhausting.  It doesn’t matter if it’s hormones, it doesn’t matter what it is.  Get rid of those people who want everything for themselves.  Who want to cut you off from everyone and everything else, who drive love and beauty from your life.  I loved Ginger but he was making life miserable for all of us.  We can’t allow those kinds of personalities to ruin things for everyone around us, not for just ourselves.  He taught me a good lesson.  He might not have been able to help being aggressive and nasty but that was unacceptable behavior.  I had to protect Emily who is sweet and afraid.  None of the other male cats have acted the he did.  I’ve know people just like him.  They can be cute and charming but they can also suck the happiness out of life.  I didn’t realize how much damage he was doing.  That’s common in situations with people as well.  I didn’t realize the squirrels and birds were gone, until they returned.  Emily would have eventually run away and she’s been with me for 4 years.  I watch out for her.  I’ve had lots of other cats here as well and they have all been respectful and nice to each other, even if that just meant leaving each other alone.

Never put up with people like this, and they are everywhere.  My garden and my animal friends are back to having fun and peace in their lives.  So am I.  Never let anyone cut you off from your friends, animal or otherwise.  If you’re unhappy and dreading something you once looked forward to and loved…there’s a reason.  Remove the reason.

I just came in from giving Em a full body massage, food treats and words of love.  She danced for me and purred so very loud, I’m wondering if you heard her.  I want her to be happy.