35 THINGS WE’VE LEARNED FROM OUR CATS

by Susan Erling Martinez

This article was published in Cat Fancy magazine in the September 2000 36 year anniversary issue.

1. Act like you’re God.
2. Be devoted to your master.
3. Purring will get you further than growling and hissing.
4. Make bathing a sacred ritual.
5. Sit in a cat tree and observe the world.
6. Make someone laugh.
7. When life gets hectic, take a nap.
8. Be a cat-alyst for change.
9. Use your “night vision.”
10. Protect your young.
11. Honor your elders.
12. Remember where you came from:  Lion and tigers, oh my!
13. Indulge your wild side.
14. Focus on your “mouse.”
15. Nine lives is never enough.
16. Watch your karma – “claws” and effect.
17. Be a finicky eater.
18. Discover even old cats love new tricks.
19. Don’t let the cat out of the bag.
20. Cough up a hairball; you’ll feel so much better.
21. Leave your mark on the world.
22. Step lightly upon Mother Earth.
23. Try to always land on your feet.
24. Refuse to wear a collar or leash.
25. Keep a safe distance from “dogs.”
26. Offer love and friendship to the lonely and elderly.
27. Go easy on the catnip.
28. Be independent of the good opinion of others.
29. Don’t covet thy neighbor’s tom cat.
30. Every so often, go out on a limb.
31. Make every day a good hair day.
32. Stretching is good for the body and soul.
33. If you really want to get someone’s attention, lie down on her newspaper.
34. Be owned by no one but yourself.
35. “Meow” means the same thing in all languages: Here I am!

 Copyright ã 2000 Susan Erling Marinez

Susan Erling Martinez is an author and the guardian of 3 cats, Mister Cayce, Sedona, and Harley-girl.

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