Cats have a special way of looking at the world. While the dog is definitely concerned about you and your happiness, the cat is more concerned about his own well-being. But each of them has enough wisdom to share with us.
Cats are practical. They can talk about being assertive and gently teaching others how to treat you and respect your boundaries. That you have to climb the highest tree if you feel like it. That appearance still matters and you need to take care of yourself. And also that you are in control of your emotions, needs and goals in life.
So, what would a cat advise us to do in order to find ourselves and make our life beautiful. (From observations of my own cats, my friends’ cats, and those who come just to get their breakfast and dinner).
1. I love you, but I love myself more. Love yourself. Sleep as much as you need, eat a little bit during the day and do only those things that are interesting to you. Set high standards for yourself and stick to them as if there were no other options. Prioritize your interests – physical, emotional and spiritual. When you are healthy in all these ways, the world will be full of opportunities for you.
Go where you want to go in life and don’t be afraid. You will always find your way home
2. Accept gifts and appreciate good intentions. I will sometimes bring you a half-dead mouse or bird. This is a gift. If this is not the gift you would like, know that I am giving it to you because I love you. The world is full of gifts. Notice them, look for them and appreciate the one who gave them to you, no matter if it is a cat or another lower animal (that is, everyone who is not a cat), a person or the universe itself.
3. Focus on what you really wantand be persistent until you get it. The “no” option does not exist. I am hungry. You will get out of your bed and feed me, otherwise I will quietly stomp nearby, stepping on the edges of your pillow and on your hair.
I will decorate the floor around the tray if the filler in it has lost its freshness. The tray needs to be cleaned and filled with new filler. I love sitting on my balcony and watching the sun come up and I know you will get up and do whatever it takes to make it happen. Do the necessary work to get what you need and get others involved in it to help you.
4. Teach others how to treat you. Show them a role model and gently but firmly cut off unwanted manifestations. I would like you to pet me right now, so I come and jump on your lap. If you got up and went somewhere, I will follow you and continue.
You will see that I am the charm itself. Okay, now that’s enough for me, and for you to understand this, I will gently slip out of your hands or lightly bite your palm if you hold me. And please don’t try to pet me when I’m not in the mood.
Don’t focus on the fact that you fell, think about the fact that you are standing on your feet after the fall.
5. Act like a king. Be confident in yourself, even if internally you have some doubts about this. If you do this for a long time, your brain will believe it! Kings don’t fuss, so don’t pester me with farcical jokes and games that are below my dignity, they can pollute my fur and drive me into stress. If I do something, then it is good for me. And now I’m looking down on you, sitting above you on a bookshelf. As it should be.
6. Appearance matters. Style your fur neatly and wear pretty accessories. Unlike a dog who will be happy with anything you put on, animals of my kind pay attention to the cleanliness of the collar. My collar should reflect my personality. Simple yet elegant, or with a touch of bohemian chic.
Like it or not, your appearance shows the whole world how you feel about yourself, how you value yourself. Even if you speak perfectly, and your fur and accessories do not shine, you undermine your royal dignity.
7. Be independent. I rely on you for food and water because I am in your house, but mostly I rely on myself. I know that only I behave through these days and I am responsible for my happiness. I love company, but loneliness too. I am responsible for my mood, emotions and needs.
8. Respect my boundaries. I will bite you, or at least make a specific and lasting protest, if you wake me from my sleep, take my toy away from me, bring a dog into our house, or otherwise disturb the world around me. And also don’t bring another cat here. I’m quite enough.
I need all your attention and time. Please bring as many fish and birds to our house as you wish. Respect for me and our shared environment will make your life easier and me happier. I don’t need much, but I like being treated with respect.
I don’t analyze why I fell. I just think: “I fell. Onward to new adventures!”
9. Walk through fear. Climb the highest trees, even if you don’t know how you will get down from there. Go where you want to go in life and don’t be afraid. You will always find your way home, even if you don’t know how to do it when you go for a walk. Being paralyzed by fear is for animals that have less brains than you or me.
10. Keep moving forward. You’ll land on all fours if you fall, and then pretend it was meant to be. Do not focus on the fact that you fell, think about the fact that you are standing on your feet after the fall. We all fall down sometimes.
Get up and move on. I don’t analyze why I fell (because I can’t!), I don’t make generalizations like “I can’t do it” or “this always happens to me”. I just think: “I fell. Forward, to new adventures!