This Dog Person Learns to Appreciate Cats

Once upon a time I was a professed cat hater. I'm ashamed to admit it now. I couldn't see the attraction of an animal that was so aloof and untrainable. My dogs would always come when I called, stay when commanded, fetch a ball and all those other fun doggy things. My friends with cats would coo and tempt with treats and toys and their cats would just look at them with some sort of imperial disdain. I've always believed the old saying that you own a dog and you feed a cat pretty much summed up the difference between the two species.

So what brought about my change of heart? One very special cat that we named Moses. Moses showed up on our farm one very rainy day crying at the top of his lungs. He might have been six weeks old at the most. This kitten wanted to be fed and dry and he wanted everyone to know it. My son, who was 9 years old at the time, rescued the kitten from the rain and brought him in the house. Of course there was much pleading on the cat's behalf, to the extent that I caved and went to the store to purchase all of the cat paraphernalia that any self respecting dog lover could think of.

Moses grew into a beautiful cat with the most unusual color of turquoise eyes that anyone had ever seen. The most important thing about Moses though, was the fact that he was an excellent mouser. On a farm keeping the rodent population down is not only a good thing, it's a necessary thing. I also think that while Moses was out hunting he was also spreading the word to the local feline community that there was food and shelter to be found at our farm.

The next stray cat to show up at our farm was a pathetic little creature that was eventually named Scooter. This little guy wasn't far from expiring from starvation. Again, it was my son who found him and brought him in the house. Scooter's spine stuck out, as well as his ribs. Moses watched over and protected Scooter like some mother hen. Moses and Scooter would play but Scooter never went far from the house. He turned into our indoor mouser. Anything that slipped by Mo, Scooter managed to catch if they got indoors. After those two I was on the slippery slope to becoming a cat fancier. The cats kept appearing at our farm and I couldn't say no. After all, I had cat food on hand and litter boxes. What was one more?

When we first moved onto our farm you couldn't walk across the lawn without turning an ankle in a chipmunk hole. The cats took care of that problem in no time. What was really fascinating was the way the older cats would go hunting and bring their catch back alive. As they were coming into the yard with a live rodent dangling from their mouth they would make a noise deep in their throats. The younger cats would come running. Then the older cat would drop his catch and sit back and watch the younger ones learn the art of hunting. These animals were not the pampered fur balls that I had seen at my friends suburban houses and apartments. These were animals that commanded my respect. In return for their services I gave them veterinary care, food and shelter. Every cat who wandered onto our farm and called it home was spayed or neutered. They were all vaccinated and treated each month for fleas. Oh, and each and every one of them spent their nights indoors sleeping on beds, sofas, and chairs where the dogs were not allowed. Several of them slept curled up somewhere around me. When I would go for a walk through the fields, cats would show up from everywhere and follow me. I felt like the Pied Piper of cats. They have proven not to be the aloof animal I once thought they were.

We have now moved in to town so I thought that we would not find ourselves adding more four footed members to our family. Silly me! The kitty underground appears to be alive and well even in town. Two more cats have found their way to our home. Both of them are young and would not have survived without some kindness bestowed upon them. I'm beginning to believe that there must be some marking on my home directing cats to our house for food, comfort and shelter. Thank goodness my dogs seem as willing to take in strays as I do.