I wrote previously about Piney and Goldie, my furry roommates. Some of you may even follow their antics on their Facebook page. Piney joined me in November 2020 and Goldie in March 2022. We have established a good life together over the past sixish months.
They have me trained quite well to meet their needs. Piney does an interesting dance to let me know she is waiting for breakfast, dinner…or some scraps from what I am preparing. Whenever I open a can of tuna, they always get the juice and a few morsels of fish as a treat. Goldie demands attention by physically putting himself on top of whatever I am working on, whether it is grading papers or typing a blog. He is one of the snuggliest cats I have known. It’s an honor when he climbs on my lap and melts into my arms. Sometimes, I join him in his nap. He gives me permission to relax and just be in the moment. Piney prefers to snuggle at night, between my legs, where she can take full advantage of her human furnace.
Goldie and Piney get along better each day. After several conversations about how a queen bed is big enough for all 3 of us, they will now lie on the bed simultaneously. Previously, Piney would either try to chase Goldie off the bed or run away if he jumped on the bed. Usually, they pick a separate portion of their human to claim for the night; however, they have laid as close as a foot from each other. Quite a lot of growth, considering there was a time Piney would have mailed Goldie to Abu Dhabi if she’d had the box and postage.
It’s amazing what love, time, and persistence can do to a person…and a cat. All Goldie wants is love from his human and his fellow feline. He just wants to be in the room where it happens. Piney is particular about her perches. She prefers spots high up so she can observe her kingdom. A thrown for her heinousness, Princess Piney. Goldie is happy to plop down on the carpet in any portion of a room and just watch what is going on. He does seem to have a particular affinity for a while fleece blanket on the ottoman in the living room. He also loves to snuggle next to feet, with his head resting close to the souls.
I was buzzing around the house one recent morning, preparing for the day. I meditated, showered, dressed, and collected my gear for the day while Piney lounged on the bed and Goldie watched from the beige carpet on the hall floor. I stopped to pet Goldie as I passed, and it hit me: I don’t own these creatures. I am their caretaker. They are not mine to possess but rather to provide for and love to the best of my ability. They are more than pets. They are members of my little family. We are a trio with two hands, two feet, and 8 paws. I miss them when I am gone. I learn from them constantly. I love them madly. More than I have ever loved an animal before.
They are not my first “pets.” I grew up with cats, but since my childhood home was located at the end of a hollow in a small town, they were outside cats. We fed our cats, spade/neutered them, ensured they had a warm place to go in the winter, and petted and loved them. But this time is different. Goldie and Piney are the first cats I have lived within a house. It is a closer and more intimate relationship. When you live in close quarters with another being, you naturally grow closer to them and know them on a deeper level.
I learn from them constantly. Goldie has taught me to slow down, put down whatever I am doing, and snuggle. We are nap buddies. He has a PhD. in Naptology and has taken me on as a student. Piney loves nature and is a natural hunter; however, she doesn’t own any firearms (to my knowledge). She has one kill under her belt – a bird she expertly picked out of the arborvitae tree in the front yard. She was heartbroken when I explained that she couldn’t bring her prize inside. She loves sitting at the front open window and tracking the front yard’s critters. She makes clicking and whirring noises when she sees a bird as if she is calling to it to draw it closer. Both felines have taught me to play, be more curious about the world, and enjoy the simple things.
They are two of the sweetest creatures I have ever met. They give more than I could ever give them in return. More than I could possibly capture in these pages.
I am fortunate to be their caretaker and will take my duties seriously for as long as they live.
