What My Cat Taught Me

I know that by the title of this, it would only be natural to assume I am a cat lady. Before you go jumping to conclusions (which in this case are probably accurate) let me continue. As I sit in my room, trying to find inspiration when it seems to have escaped with no hope of return (at least for the day), I pet my cat in exasperation. He purrs softly and reaches his head back as if to remind me, “Just relax.” He then yawns repeatedly. At least he knows how to follow his own advice.My cat loves to sit with me as I write. Perhaps he likes the sound of my fingers typing away or he just likes the blanket I put there for him. Probably the latter. Nonetheless, I like his company. As an only child, he is my compadre and we love to look out our window on quiet afternoons. Uh oh, I’m starting to sound like I’m writing a dating profile for my cat and I. So let me get to the real point of this post.No matter what kind of pet you have (and I hope you have one!) be it a dog, cat, iguana, or hermit crab—our pets can teach us so much about happiness. Sometimes those who can’t talk (at least not a human language) can say the most.My Siamese, short haired, Chocolate Point cat, Kiko, has been teaching me lessons on the daily ever since we picked him up as a kitten in San Diego almost seven years ago. I’m blessed to have this big ball of fur in my life (he’s nearing 20 pounds soon) and I wanted to share his cat wisdom with you all:1. Say hello to everyone: Whenever anyone comes to my house, Kiko is the first to greet them. He loves to be pet and introduce himself. In return, everyone loves him. Our first cat Simo (bless his heart) was a real grump when it came to strangers and in return, visitors never paid much attention to him. Moral of the story: say hello to people, both friends and strangers and they will be more included to interact with you. It’s a win-win for both parties.2. Take risks: Most cats loathe the water. Not Kiko. Whenever I take a bath, he loves to sit on the ledge and dip his entire tail in. Maybe some of his genes got rewired, but I love his uncanny boldness. Do the same in your life—venture in the unknown and don’t be afraid of a little water.3. Lean on others: We’re often taught to be independent and self-reliant—we don’t like to admit to that we need help. Kiko has no problem with that. In these cold winter months, his fur coat hasn’t been doing him justice so he loves to jump in my lap and warm up. Don’t be afraid to count on others when you need some extra encouragement or comfort—they will appreciate you reaching out.4. Take naps: That lesson is pretty simple. Need I say more?5. Love your life: Kiko is a master purr cat. He loves to be pet and cuddled and hearing his loud “motor” run always makes me happy. Kiko delights in his simple yet fruitful life and we should love our lives as well. He doesn’t live in a palace, but to him, his family and safe home are all that he needs. Let us be content with what we have and find our happiness within our homes.I hope Kiko has been able to impart some wisdom to you today through me. He’s been a faithful friend throughout the years, and I’ll always be thankful to him for the endless happiness he’s given me. There are few people in this world who can give us unconditional love but our pets give it flawlessly. Give your pet an extra cuddle today.Keep shining,The Sunny Girl, Lauren CookIt would make my day if you "liked" my Sunny Girl Facebook page by clicking here!