Not-So-Wild Things

In the last post I talked about the passing of my old cat and little buddy Curtis. This week I want to give a shout out to our other cat, Abby. She’s a sweet little rescue from the Humane Society that came into our lives about four years ago. A tiny little thing, she was dropped off at the shelter with her set of newly born kittens, herself barely out of kittenhood at the time. You could tell she was streetwise, and was more trusting of other animals than humans. Unfortunately, I’m sure she had good reason.

We were very patient with her, didn’t force affection or expect her to be the instant love that Curtis was. She had her own mind, which usually meant spending most of the time outdoors away from us, no doubt hunting some poor unsuspecting critters. After the first year she started to warm up, allowing petting and actually sitting by us here and there. Although she may not ever be a full-fledged lap cat, she has grown very fond and trusting of me. She lets me know when it’s time to give a good ear scratching, and follows me around at night until I get the message that it’s time to go to bed. She’ll now lay curled up beside me, and since the recent passing of Curtis (who even on his last day was stealing her food), she has become a bit cuddlier and more relaxed.

Although Miss Abby has a wild streak, it’s also very apparent that she’s quite happy living with us and now enjoys human contact and love. After the rough start she had, I’m more than happy to give it to her. Bringing these little creatures into the family can enrich their life and yours. It’s our responsibility to give them the safe, nurturing environment they deserve if we decide to let them into our home. This week’s message is a re-post from a couple years back. Give it a read and then go kiss your cat, or dog, or rabbit, or goat, or whatever. They’ll be happy you did.

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From Over There:

"It is the responsibility of humankind to accept caring for the well-being of domesticated animals. Animals that are domesticated by humans and kept as pets have received conditioning that gives them some human-like qualities and neurosis that make them more vulnerable than their counterparts in the wild. The domesticated animal must be treated as a member of the family unit in order to feel safe, and able to interact in a positive way. 

The canine is the most human-like and vulnerable of the domesticated animal, in general, and would have a more difficult time adapting back into the wild, unlike the feline which, for the most part, could adapt quickly. Mistreatment and neglect of these domesticated pets is equivalent to abandonment of a small child and should be treated with the same concern. They should not be viewed like their counterparts in the wild. This is the responsibility of humans who created this condition for these animals."

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Through the interaction with animals, the kids learn forgiveness, courage, strength, leadership skills, trust, empathy, and kindness. The healing that takes place when the kids get together with the animals is miraculous. To learn more about The Gentle Barn, please visit gentlebarn.org.

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