By Jackie King
It’s been said that every writer should own a cat. Since
I’m a writer, I’ve been pondering these words all morning, wondering about its
veracity. (For one thing, I already know that you never own a cat. The cat owns
you.)
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| Pawley's Family including pet cousins Pawley not included--she's very shy! |
Now before cyberland-cat-lovers (and I know there are myriads) stop reading this post in anger, let me hasten to say that I absolutely adore cats. I always used to have one, and I’m happy to say that each one lived to be quite old. My last cat, a Siamese named Fletcher, was so dear to me that I almost bankrupt myself with daily trips to the vet. He required regular IVs to keep him hydrated and comfortable. I just couldn’t bear to let him go to Kitty Heaven. Finally, the lovely lady vet told me that it would be much kinder to help him make that final crossing. And I did, holding him in my lap with tears flowing.
Fletcher was so special that I couldn’t bear to
replace him, and got my kitty-fixes from cats of friends and relatives until
they grew weary of my showing up at their front doors.
However, I now live in the best of all cat-worlds. I
have a GrandKitty named Pawley, who spends her vacations with me. This is so
great! I get to keep her at regular intervals while her family travels.
However, someone else is responsible for her health and for taking her to the
evil vet, whom this cat hates and despises.
Most of the time Pawley lives with her sister Lauren,
who is my granddaughter and her parents, Susan and Rick. She was a rescue cat
who fortuitously landed in heaven-on-earth. She has been spoiled and pampered
by her sister for five years now. She has toys, clothes and even a special
kitty stroller that Lauren uses to take her for walks. Every Christmas Santa
fills a decorated stocking with her name emblazoned across the top in glitter.
And one thing that is always included is a can of Vienna sausage, her favorite
people food.
But back to the saying, “Every writer should own a
cat.”
This saying must have been coined before computers. Because even thought I adore my GrandKitty to
distraction, I can’t convince her not to sit directly in front of my computer
screen, and/or on top of the current manuscript I’m trying to edit.
As any cat fancier worth her or her salt knows, cats
do not recognize the word, “No.” Or at least not when a person says the word.
She, of course, can communicate this word quite well when she wishes, with the
swish of her tail.
So for the last three weeks I’ve been holding her in
my lap reaching around her furry body so I can stretch forward in order to
reach the keys. A little distracting, but what can I do? She’s such a sweet and
tiny little thing.
And while I’m mentioning her petite size, I should remark
about my confusion; how can a 4-pound cat need over 50 pounds of equipment for just
a three-week stay? Luckily her big sister is an athlete who is a competitive
swimmer. Strong arms are needed to carry all of Pawley’s stuff to my third
floor apartment.
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| Lauren Keithley, Pawley's big sister, at OK State Meet with coach |
Having done all of this complaining, isn’t it
surprising that I’m not eager to see the last of her furry little body? I’ll
miss her company. So I guess it is true that every writer should own a cat.
Hugs to all book and animal lovers out there in
cyberland.
Jackie
