Dear Fisher,
My name is Monte and I have to tell you, I am just not all that happy to see boxes of holiday stuff coming down from the attic. I am 16 years old now and have gone through many holidays in my beautiful home. People just show up! It’s all abuzz, as they say. It’s good that everyone is loving and happy, but I am just not in the mood this year.
And then there’s all the cooking that goes on here. It’s amazing. My housemate woman is a fantastic cook. I know that because that is a huge part of the conversation around the dinner table – not that I ever get to taste any of it. But, it used to smell so good to me. Now, I just don’t like it so much. Am I just being a…what would you call it? A Hum Bug? What’s the matter with me anyway?
Monte
Dear Monte,
No, I do not sense anything of a humbug in you. At age 16, you are somewhere around the age equivalency of an 80 year old human. I am not that far behind, and my honest opinion is that you can think whatever you want. You have earned it! My readers know by now that one of my favorite concepts is R-E-S-P-E-C-T. You have earned that, too.
Cats – and dogs, and other animals for that matter – are much like humans in their aging process. It is natural, even though the tendency to fight it is enormous for some. There is nothing wrong with being aged. Sure, the eyes may get a little cloudy and out of whack and you cannot quite make the jump from the floor to the lavished dining room table. Grey hairs show up, you now have a little paunch, your limbs get a little creaky, and so does your attitude.
How you handle your holidays this year is much dependant on the guest list. If you are expecting small children, giddy young couples, some of whom will bring that darn dog with them, and numbers of people you have met before but are not all that familiar with, plan a day of lounging away from the maddening crowd. If you are expecting a group of 4 or more assorted people, try to get your human to provide a nice bowl of food, a special treat, and water. Your litter box would probably be a good idea, too. She can place it lovingly in the Master Bedroom where you can lounge all day on the big comfy bed. Guests can use the bed in the guest room to their purses, coats, gifts, cleaned soufflé dishes, etc. You can just be queen for the day, and I guarantee, you will get through the ordeal very well.
I found this in an enlightening article by Phil Maggitti, Caring for the Older Cat, “That celebrated cat lover Cleveland Amory once defined a conservative as someone who does not like anything to happen that has not happened before. The older cats become, the more conservative they get.” Maggitti writes of the many changes in cats as they age. Diminished sight, weight gain, finicky eating habits due to lessened sense of smell are all very normal. Along with those changes may come crabbiness, lack of interest in playing with your toys, and accentuated reaction to holidays which lead to stress. Ask any 80 year old person, and they will concur.
All living beings, of course, must try to exercise, eat healthy, enjoy good dental care, and relax. If any symptoms go to beyond moderate level, you should consult your veterinarian or acupuncturist. But as for your humbuginess, enjoy it and enjoy a quiet day of solitude while the throngs of folks downstairs - even the ones that brought the dog – are enjoying their holiday merriment. Honor yourself and you will be honored. Enjoy!
Your friend,
Fisher
published in tbt* Tampa Bay
I suppose you are wondering why a cat…the most independent house pet of all (I think)…is even impressed. Well, just like the people in my household, it is good to take time to appreciate all the freedoms I have. This is such a special day for my humans and us cats - the 4th of July! The celebratory mood around here is so much fun – 4th of July carols, picnics, friends and family, fireworks - feeling especially free and proud of our heritage. The Man, a Viet Nam Vet, and the Woman, a peace-marching hippie - together with the same goal: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. We are all very aware that freedom and independence with a good dose of respect guides us in our lives personally and in our relationships with each other, although we may not mention it, think of it consciously, or even talk about it on a daily basis. It is just good to have a special day in the year to really acknowledge it openly with millions of others.
No advice today – just wishing you a happy 4th of July, and may the spirit of Independence Day imbed itself into your hearts and lives!
I found out since my last post that National Pet Month is really between April 7th and May 7th. So…I guess I missed most of it, but it’s on my calendar now!There are just all sorts of holidays going on out there and you might want to jot them down yourself. Who wants to miss out on a chance to celebrate? January is Rescued Bird Month, February is Pet Dental Month, November is Senior Pet Month, and October is National Pet Wellness Month. That’s just for starters!
Look what else I found:
Pets:
- National Pet Week–1st week of May
- Be Kind to Animals Week–1st week of May
- Responsible Pet Owners Month–February 1-28
- National Dress Up Your Pet Day–January 14
- National Pet ID Week–April 18-24
- National Bird Day–January 5
- Frog Jumping Jubilee Day–May 19
- National Pig Day–March 1
Dog Lovers:
- National Dog Week–Last week of September
- Adopt-a-dog Month–October 1-31
- International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day–February 23
Cat Lovers:
- Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month–June 1-30
- National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day–January 22
- Rat Catcher’s Day–July 22
- You may not know this, but cats are great supporters of efforts to save endangered species:
- Save the Rhino Day–May 1
- Festival for the Souls of Dead Whales–December 10
Unlikely Pets:
- Carpenter Ant Awareness Week–June 20-26
- Rattle Snake Round-up–January 28
- Serpent Day–February 1
- Yell,”Fudge!” at the Cobras in North America Day–June 2
- Sea Serpent Day–August 7
- Cordova Ice Worm Day–February 3
- International Polar Bear Day–February 27
- Buzzard’s Day–March 15
- Cuckoo Warning Day–June 21
- Donald Duck Day–June 9
- Champion Crab Races Day–February 17
My Advice for Today: Celebrate Life! Make it an every day holiday.
