The Comfort of Cats

This is Ralphie, our youngest cat. I don't consider myself a "cat lady" and my husband most definitely does not consider himself a cat lover, but tonight as I walked into the kitchen from the sofa I heard him ask me to bring him a toothpick. I asked him if he was just waiting for me to come downstairs to get him one so he would not have to get off the sofa. As I brought him his toothpick I saw he was being held down by cats. One of our cats was on his lap, another lolling over his shoulder and the third was draped over his stretched out legs. He would not disturb the cats to get up and go into the kitchen. I asked him if I could snap a picture of this and he was horrified, he doesn't care for cats you know ( so he says) and someone viewing a picture of him with cats all round might actually think he is a cat lover. Here is Joey, my fierce and loyal black cat. Joey will run to a window if he hears a vehicle pull into the driveway and growl at it. He also talks and one of these days I am determined to have my video camera ready to record him. He often follows me around outside and if he sees me from afar he meows very loudly "hurrow, hurrow" it really sounds like he is saying "hello" with a Chinese accent. He is a talker, but only to me. "God made the cat so man might have the pleasure of caressing the tiger." Ferdinand Mery Candy Cat is totally an outdoor cat. Because of some physical problems she was born with she does not do well indoors. If you are outside though she shadows you and loves to warm the laps of anyone enjoying the porch rockers. "For every house is incomplete without him, and a blessing is lacking in the spirit." Christopher Smart Miss Marple, still the Queen feline around here. "A cat-less writer is almost inconceivable.It's a perverse taste really, since it would be easier to write with a herd of buffalo than even one cat; they make nests in the notes and bite the end of the pen and walk on the typewriter keys." Barbara Holland ( I have to add this because it is so true!)

She enjoys a good nap on our bed. "Since each of us is blessed with only one life why not live it with a cat?" Robert Stearns

When not napping on our bed,she loves to snuggle with me on the sofa. "I simply can't resist a cat, particularly a purring one. They are the cleanest, cunningest, and most intelligent things I know, outside of the girl you love, of course." Mark Twain

During times of stress, weariness, and trial I cannot even begin to tell you how much comfort my cats brought just by insisting themselves on me and purring loudly. They really seemed to know I needed something extra, a warm presence that did not need to say anything, or make sense of distress and grief. The cats just firmly planted themselves against me, or on me and purred. I cannot say enough about the blessing of the comfort of cats. I am thankful God created cats, and I think although my husband will never say it, he is too. "A meow massages the heart" Stuart McMillan You might enjoy this video of a cat called "The Angel of Death", I think this cat should be called " The Comforting Angel".