A darned smart creature

Inspiration

By Charles Towne

Papa God, you must especially love cats, you made so many of them!

I imagine that if our cats were unable to purr all of that happiness would build up and the poor wee beasties would likely explode.

I think that cats can talk, but; being very wise they choose not to.

I have owned a few dogs in my life but never a cat. One does not own a cat, one serves a cat.

I would like to think I am somewhat smarter than a retarded garden slug, but now, after living with cats for well over twenty years I don’t know.

Consider cats now, they are downright clever beasties, yes, clever and manipulative, yes, very manipulative. And they know how to milk it to their best advantage.

Take obedience for example. Cats, by reputation, are not obedient. Dogs are obedient to a fault. Cats are not. In fact, cats are so smart they have trained humans to be obedient.

Oh sure, I know you think I’m weird, but think about it, cats tolerate us and we mistake their tolerance as love. My cats are the exception to the rule, they really love me.

If we humans were really clever we would follow the cat's lead and not be so needy.

Cats, when they desire human companionship come to us, pet us; perhaps go to sleep in our collective laps for a while, but then they wake up and are about life's more important issues, like chasing butterflies, using the litter box, or playing with a ball of fluff they dragged out from under the bed.

Don't feel bad, a ball of fluff from under the bed may not be all that bad when you consider that my junior feline companion Shnoodles seems to prefer playing with a dead roach to my company. Hey, I never claimed that cats were particularly good for the ego.

Cats are very wise creatures. They know exactly how to manipulate men, or women; whatever the case may be, to their will. Just think about it. You feed your cats. You clean their litter box. You buy them special toys. You play with them, pet them, cuddle them, clean their… yes I know, I already said that. We throw things for them to chase and they train us to retrieve the things that we throw for them to chase. We take them to the vet when they are sick, we pay those astronomical vet bills and give them free room and board. Some cat people even leave their puppy cats vast fortunes in their wills when they die. We allow them to take up most of the bed at night, we protect them and clean the litter box. Now I need to ask you a question, just who is smarter, the cats or us? I never had anyone waiting on me hand and foot the way I take care of my cats. Just think of it, perhaps cats are a higher life form, and if not a higher life form they are definitely more intelligent.

Yep, when I think about it they are a lot smarter than we are.

What's that? Yes master, right away master.

I have to go now Shnoodles has just asked me to clean the litter box.

Yes, master, I’m coming master!

You have a nice day now, and may your cats teach you.

A Cat Lover's Prayer

Dear Papa God, please help me to bestow upon others the great joy that my cats continually bestow upon me. I wonder if a car’s purr is really some sort of feline prayer? Nah, probably not, but when one of my kitties is sitting in my lap and gazing into my eyes, and purring up a storm it brings me great peace and joy. Do our prayers do the same thing for you Father? It seems Lord, that you have created a mighty fine animal in the cat, and I thank you for that. In Jesus’ blessed name I ask this, Amen, and Amen!

Charles Towne is first and foremost a Christian. An octogenarian, author, journalist, wildlife photographer, naturalist, caregiver, and survivor, his life has been and continues to be, a never-ending adventure filled with possibilities never imagined. He has adopted the philosophy that to Live fully, laugh uproariously, love passionately, and learn like there is no tomorrow, is a formula for a long and joy-filled life.