Declan and the Cat

In the two months I have owned a cat, I have discovered there is nothing more terrifying than trying to put a unagreeable cat into a cat carrier.

I have also learned that cats are particular and if you do not meet their demands, they can be a little testy.

This human has learned her cat’s wishes.  I know if I do not meet the cat’s requirements, I will pay the price.

Having had to pay the price a few times, with a few hisses and purposeful litter box missing (I mean, she went right next to it – c’mon!  Message received!) I stand a little on guard with the cat.

And have found there is nothing more unnerving than waking up in the middle of the night to have the cat looking at you.

At first, I would wake and sense something odd.  I would open my eyes to see the cat on my chest looking at me.

Just looking at me.

So, I rolled over.  An hour or so later I woke to see the cat lying on a pillow next to me.

Just looking at me.

This wasn’t a one-time occurrence.  For the past two months I wake in the middle of the night to see two little green eyes SOMEWHERE near my head.

Just looking at me.

The cat only comes out at night.  Turns out she is deathly afraid of our dogs.  I guess time on the road will do that to a cat.

So, at night when we cage the dogs the cat comes out.

Just to look at me.

At least that is what it feels like.  Maybe she does something else while I slumber.  I’d like to think so because the alternative is super creepy.  Just being stared at all night.

When, by chance, the cat has an encounter with one of our dogs we see how upset she is.  And begin to understand why she is such a recluse during the day.

As a talking friend to our Google Home and all our pets, Declan likes to sit next to the bed the cat is hiding under during the day to talk with her and ask about her day.  He will sit next to the closet she is hiding in to inquire if she liked her food.   He is a very thoughtful friend.

So, it should be no surprise that at the school’s book fair this week Declan took his money to buy this book:

Want to know why?

So he could read it to the cat when she was in hiding.  Declan thought the cat would like it.

How sweet is that?

So now I can listen to Declan sit next to a bed and read about the different kinds of cats to our cat hiding under the bed.  He even turns the book to try to show her pictures of the cats.

We even learned about our cat.  Turns out she isn’t as evil as I had concerned over.

Our cat must have been happy to hear that as she patiently listens to Declan’s reading to her.

Until nighttime.  When she can resume her perch near me.

Just to stare at me.