Can You Hear This?

If you ever had any doubt, I am here to tell you, cats and dogs chose their people, people don’t chose them! In all my years growing up, we had numerous pets–both cats and dogs. No matter what was said at the time they were brought home, they chose. As a kid, more often than not, the chosen one was my mother. Looking back it was pretty obvious, she was the one they counted on for food and care.

As I established my own home after college, I decided to “adopt” my first pet. It was a cat and he chose me. I can’t explain how. Here I was, going to the SPCA with every intention of picking out a cat for myself. Forget it! There I was in a room full of kitties and they’re all ready to go home with me but, suddenly, there’s this one who has locked on to me with these great big green eyes and he’s effectively telling me, “I’ve decided, you’re it, I’m going home with you.”

People say cats are aloof. They’re not really–except to those they haven’t chosen to adopt. Once they’ve decided you’re the one, they’re like a second skin. They will follow you around, “talk” your ear off and remind you constantly that you are “their” chosen one. It’s a lot like hero worship and, if you find the cat that decides you’re the ONE, it’s the love of a lifetime. They will not abandon you for another love, money or fresh fish! The only thing that can tear them from your side as your ever-loving companion is death.

As my first experience of this phenomenom was with a cat, I continued, once he went to the great sand box in the sky, to allow myself to be the owner of a cat that had “chosen” me as his person. I use the male pronoun because they have all been male. Since they were also all neutered, I doubt the sex is that significant, but you just never know.

My current kitty has decided that I’m not as suited to his taste for a life-long companion as Darlin’ Boy! He jumped ship, so to speak, fairly soon after Darlin’ Boy arrived on the scene. That cat believes that Darlin’ Boy lives to be his person. Cats can be very self-centered, don’t cha’ know! However, they are very loving to the people they choose and Darlin’ Boy is rewarded for his attention. Kitty brings him presents, comes when he calls, “talks” to him constantly and keeps Darlin’ Boy warm by plastering himself against him anytime he sits down. He’ll even sit still for me to give him an occasional bath, if Darlin’ Boy holds him. And, as I live and breath, Darlin’ Boy fawns over this cat and still tries to tell me he’s not a cat person! Yeah, right! He has just never been chosen by a cat before. It’s a heady experience, to be sure!

Never have I been the “chosen” person for a dog. We had all kinds of dogs when I was growing up. I never felt particularly attached to any of them and, while they were always friendly and playful, they were not particularly attached to me either.

Things changed abruptly when Doggie appeared on the scene. As I mentioned, he was my parents dog for many years. From the very first time we were introduced, I felt an attachment. At our first meeting, he stood up on his hind legs, put his front paws on my shoulders, cupped them around my neck and pulled me to him for a hug. A doggie hug——–a first for me!

Over the years, I always felt a special attachment for Doggie and loved to visit him when I went to visit the folks. Now, it’s just a whole different ballgame. Despite the attachment to my Dad, his affection for Beau (they were puppies together) and his appreciation for Darlin’ Boy, I am his person of choice. He is my doggie and I know that he picked me, not the other way around.

So, imagine my surprise at 40+ to finally have my first doggie! It’s an amazing thing–and as the song says, they call it Puppy Love!

Popularity: 39% [?]