TGIF
If you didn’t know it already, I love cats.
All cats.
I’m a cat person.
I like dogs too, as long as someone else owns them.
I especially have a heart for stray cats and I leave them food every night in front of and in back of my home.
Some of the strays have learned to trust me enough that they come and request a meal if the bowls are dry.
All the strays are welcome to be strays no longer and call my house their home.
Well, they’re almost welcome.
The only problem they face is the cat who was once a stray, but is now a stray no longer, the beloved Miss Kitty.
Miss Kitty was in bad shape when she first came here..she was filthy and ill tempered and less than a pleasant companion all the way around.
My son loved her for reasons known only to him.
Because he did, I would too.
Thus, she stayed.
Over the years she’s mellowed and adjusted to a new life, she’s grown to be a wonderful companion and a beautiful cat.
She knows I care for the other cats around us though, and this troubles her for some reason.
She guards the outside food dishes and those who desire to eat must often pass through her first.
Some… have no chance…..she sees them and assaults them until they flee.
Some… she lets pass through to the dish, then sits beside them and growls the entire time they try to partake.
They can eat, but she really wants them to leave after they’re finished.
A very few have managed to meet her in the driveway and pass her inspection.
I know not what makes her amenable to these few… what set of feline confessions are heard and affirmed that makes her willing to let them pass.
They are allowed to eat in peace with only an occasional look of suspicion or growl that affirms whose territory they’re on.
This behavior frustrates me…I want to see all the cats to be fed and find a home.
My son loves them all.
Miss Kitty only wants the ones who she finds agreeable.
The rest can starve until they learn how to speak to her properly.
Most, it seems, never learn the language.
They remain strays at the paws of a former stray.
It doesn’t seem right.
Little does she know that I’m always looking for ways to feed them anyway…
Make your own application…
The cat just informed me that she wants royalties…
=)
This is a brilliant allegory! I guarantee that this will someday be quoted in a sermon. Unlike a certain preacher from Washington, I will not plagiarize it. What royalties do you and Miss Kitty require?
CK,
Everything here always belongs to you as well if you think it useful.
Miss Kitty is easily satisfied with treats… 🙂
The Prodigal’s older brother!
Wow. I have tears after reading this. Wow….just wow.
Nonnie,
I hope that means it was good…
Michael, over the years your writing has broken through my religion and pointed me to the heart of the Father.
I may not agree with you all the time, but your writing shakes me up and encourages me to seek God’s heart and truth. Thank you!
Nonnie,
I don’t even agree with me all the time. 🙂
Thank you for always being here with us and being a great encourager to keep on going.
Sweet. Very sweet…. so many higher lessons contained in our dealings with critters… The real Gospel message is all around. No wonder Jesus often said “he who has ears to hear what the Spirit says”….
Thank you, Paige!
Pope just called all childless couples ‘selfish’
This from a Cadre of red purple and white shrouded old men with vows of celibacy.
What’s your take?
-mike
Michael: Why don’t you put the foot just outside your property line and her territory? That way, all can eat.
I meant food. Not foot. LOL.
Judy,
She moves all over the neighborhood.
She’s a big girl… 🙂
“She’s a big girl”. HAHAHAHAHAHA Don’t mess with MISS KITTY.
Mike,
I don’t pay much attention to papal declarations… we Reformed got over that 500 years ago.
just checking in…. love you all (((((hugs)))))
Love and hugs to you, Dusty!
Nonnie, you are such a sweetheart!!
DUSTY!! Great to see you. (((hugs)))
Good to see you, Dusty…much love to you.
The difference between feeling you are the “favorite” instead of simply one who has received “favor”
Jeff,
Good call…
Miss Kitty is protecting her territory. My mom had a tomcat many years ago who claimed 3 houses to the left of the house then 3 to the right …behind and across the street.He fought many battles in his short life over that piece of territory.
The Dude,
that’s about the size of her domain…though she extends it on occasion… 🙂
Oregon governor is resigning. Allegations his girlfriend prospered by her relationship to him.
Too bad, he did his job well.
I have a Husky and a Beagle who both have tried to be friends with a cat that comes here every now and then .. I have birds to so I think this attracts the cat .. as soon as the cat sees the dogs it is off .. both dogs are no good as guard dogs but the Husky scares people when I walk him .. all he wants to do is lick and play .. sorry Michael but dogs are my thing but I like cats to .. love your story today
After reading this cat post I got a real life lesson.
Some one offended me to the point of me feeling wounded.
As I stewed in my unforgiving position, your cat story kept leaking in at me.
I wanted to stay closed off and angry, but your story kept pushing on me.
I eventually had to realize I was defending the cat bowls and repented.
Once again Michael your pad tiring in my life pays off in spades!
I hate spell checker. I said once again your “pastoring”
Cats are a funny bunch. I have a mother cat who had six babies and I kept two of the babies. At five months, she decided it was time for them to make it on their own, so she paid them no attention and hissed at them if they came near here. The runt was kind of sad about this and so she made friends with our other older cat. But El Diablo, my nickname for the mother, would hold down her territory in the house which was usually at my or my husband’s feet and if those two “babies” came anywhere near that 5 foot circle, she chased them off. But now some time has gone by and she is accepting them as living mates and is as likely to play with them as swat them on the head and hiss at them.
But like you. Michael, we get great joy out of our four cats which have turned out to be less work that one big dog.