I may chat about my books, what I'm writing or reading, or just general thoughts. You may read posts about my cats or just my crazy life in general. Comments are welcome, if anyone wants to interact with me. Maybe we can share war stories, whether it's writing related or just about life in general.

Friday, April 17, 2015

Obsessive Cat Disorder









Oh boy, this is definitely me all the way.  I love cats, which is a big surprise to everyone I bet.  J  I’ve had cats all of my adult life and of course we had them on the farm growing up too.


When we were all children, we had forty-two farm cats at one time.  Can you imagine that?  It was a sea of furry bodies with waving tails and loud meows when we stepped outside in the summers.  We would throw them bread scraps sometimes, but usually they lived off mice they caught in the barns and out in the fields.



 Tootie

We inherited so many stray cats because people would drop them off on the highway not far from the house.  The cats would roam around, find us, and then mate with each other.  It didn’t take long to go from one cat to ten or twenty.  We never neutered any of the cats or dogs on the farm.  The only animals that were snipped were the bulls.  I’m sure that wasn’t a picnic for anyone, humans or animals.

The population of the cats would vary as the years went by because inevitably they’d be run over on the highway or drowned in a rainstorm.  I guess my parents figured there was no need to have them neutered because nature would take of it, which it did.  Besides, we couldn’t afford to take animals to the vet.  Anything that happened to people or animals was treated on the farm.



 Koki

All of my cats are neutered or spayed and they’ve all lived indoors with me.  I can’t imagine my life without a cat in it.  They are fun to watch and loving creatures that are good for your health according to studies that say they lower blood pressure and help with stress by putting people in a happier mood.

I guess cats suit me because I know I’d never walk a dog.  To me a dog is a needier sort of animal where cats are independent and can take care of themselves as long as you have food and water out and a litter box handy.

Raven

Out of all my cats, I’ve only had one given to me, and one that adopted us.  All the rest I’ve rescued and given them a better and longer life than they would have had if I hadn’t stepped in.

Have you adopted any animals?  If so, do you prefer cats or dogs?
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10 comments:

  1. A Tarkabarka HölgyApril 17, 2015 at 6:37 AM

    I'm a dog person. I have nothing against cats, but in my family they were always outside animals, living in the firewood piles and having babies in the cellar. I think grandma would have died if we allowed one in the house :D

    @TarkabarkaHolgy from
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    1. SunniApril 17, 2015 at 11:15 PM

      Tarka,

      There are dog people and cat people and people who have both so it's okay with me. I just know I would do a dog a disservice because it requires a lot more than a cat and I wouldn't be good about walking it two-three times a day, especially in the winters.

      I'm sure my inlaws cringe every time they come to our house because of the cats inside. But they are safer indoors and it doesn't bother me a bit to change litter boxes and have fur on everything.

      Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.

      Sunni

      Delete
  2. pilch92April 17, 2015 at 6:53 AM

    You sound so much like me, I am all about cats. Many of ours were drop offs that I had fixed and keep inside. I never had a cat growing up though- I guess I was deprived.

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    1. SunniApril 17, 2015 at 11:23 PM

      Pilch,

      The only reason we had cats growing up was because we lived on a farm and people would drop off unwanted pets on the highway. I still can't get over people doing this to animals, but it happens all the time. Why they don't take them to a shelter or try to find them a home is beyond me. Because we grew up with animals, all of us love them as adults.

      On the farm we always had watch dogs, but you don't really get that with a cat. Although, one time I did have a watch cat. He was terribly fierce when strangers came over or even when someone knocked on the door. He was very protective of me.

      I would never even think of leaving my cats outdoors ever. It would be like abandoning my kids to all kinds of danger. I know it's hard for some people to imagine this sort of thinking.

      Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.

      Sunni

      Delete
  3. BirgitApril 17, 2015 at 1:55 PM

    These cats are adorable! I grew up on a sawmill in the country so we had cats also-always dropped off. My mom would see their snowy faces and feed them and that's how we got cats. They also never believed in spaying or neutering which i am sad about but those were the times. I am a dog person but we have 1 dog and 4 cats. My hubby is a cat person. They are all rescue cats and our dog, Wallace is a rescue as well-love to help whenever we can

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    1. SunniApril 17, 2015 at 11:29 PM

      Birgit,

      That's wonderful that you rescue animals. You're right, spaying and neutering weren't as popular way-back-when as they are today.

      I help when I can too and take food to the local shelter where I live. Of course, while there, I don't dare look at any of the cats. I had six at one time and that was too many to give them all enough attention. I've got three now. They're all good company for each other when we aren't home.

      Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.

      Sunni

      Delete
  4. Thea O'BrianApril 17, 2015 at 6:12 PM

    Ha! What about all the chickens too Sunni? OMG!
    http://enchantedfantasies.blogspot.com/

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    1. SunniApril 17, 2015 at 11:33 PM

      Thea,

      Yes, that's right. But I wasn't obsessed with the chickens. It's still hard to believe that Charlie's mother let them wander in and out of the house. They even sat on the couch and watched TV with the family.

      Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.

      Sunni

      Delete
  5. ErraticElleApril 19, 2015 at 5:25 PM

    Out of our menagerie of six, five were rescues. All of the dogs came from shelters (Sadie was down to her last 2 days in a kill shelter when we snagged her). None of the cats came from shelters. Picabo was found by my ex-brother-in-law with his two sisters in a wood pile. Bailey actually was a birthday present and came (sadly) from a pet store. Jasper was found by my brother and his wife as a disastrous stray in the middle of a busy city street. They're all terribly spoiled. Elle @ Erratic Project Junkie

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    1. SunniApril 19, 2015 at 5:58 PM

      Hi Elle,

      Cute names for your pets. I'm glad they were rescued from dangerous circumstances. Can't do anything about Bailey being a BD present from a pet store. I know they're probably as spoiled as mine. LOL

      Thanks for reading and commenting.
      Sunni

      Delete

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