A few weeks ago we went to a cat show. You may be wondering what a “cat show” is exactly, and I’m certainly not the best one to explain it. But, in short, it’s an event where cat lovers and cat breeders come together for a weekend to celebrate all things feline. Since our pharmacy services both humans and pets, we set up a booth there to talk to people about their cat’s medication needs.
Now in full disclosure, I’m typically more a dog person than a cat person. I swoon over kittens just as much as anyone, and I rescued a stray cat that I talked my parents into adopting in college. But in this particular life stage I appreciate the goofiness of a dog more than the moodiness of a cat. We have a lot of drama with three daughters in the house, and I’m just not sure I can handle a cat rolling its eyes at me, too.
But back to the cat show… I have never seen anything quite like it. There were demonstrations going on, contests being held for “best in show” awards, and my personal favorite: an agility course where cats went through an obstacle course to show off their athletic skills. Watching a cat go through an agility course is sort of like watching a toddler do one. The contestants may or may not hide in a tunnel, run away, take a nap, sprawl out on the floor and stretch for awhile, etc. The cats we watched had little if any interest in completing the course. In typical feline fashion, they had their own agenda and total disdain for the crowd that had gathered to watch them. It made for great entertainment.
The girls, of course, were enamored with all the cats at the show and were convinced we needed to bring one home as a playmate for Rosie. I don’t always feel confident in my parenting decisions, but I know without a doubt that the last thing we need in our home is another animal. So, much to their dismay, we didn’t come home with a new pet.
What I did come home with, though, is a deeper appreciation for animals—cats or dogs—and the way they become a part of our family. I’ve been feeling guilty lately about how much time Rosie spends alone, especially during the busy spring. She thinks she’s a person, and she wants to be with people at all times. The Spouse takes her with him whenever he can on the weekends, and she loves riding along in the car. But they have always had a special relationship.
Whereas he calms her and can hold her, I tend to excite her and can hardly control her. He always says, “She just wants to be with you. Why don’t you take her along in the afternoons for the ride?”
I’ve tried that before and it rarely ends well, but I will admit she has matured a bit over the past few months. My biggest concern is still her barking problem. It’s alarming and embarrassing how much and how loudly she barks if she sees a person she doesn’t know or another pet she wants to greet. Fortunately, the Spouse has created some calming supplements at the pharmacy and they actually work! When I don’t have those on hand, though, we have found something else that helps bring her down a notch: a can of compressed air. For whatever reason she’s scared of the sound it makes, so I can distract her from barking by using it. So on days when we’re not in a hurry, I don’t mind her going along.
One day this week she saw that we were preparing to leave and things weren’t looking favorable for her going with us. That’s when she seized an opportunity to jump in the car.
Me: Rosie! Out of the car! You can’t go with us today. You bark at strangers at dance and there’s too much traffic for all that distraction.
Rosie: What??!! You need me. I shall sit on the brake until you change your mind.
Me: No! I said get out! We’ll be right back.
Rosie: Fine. I will move. But only to the passenger seat. And since I am such a small dog, I shall sit in the dancer’s lap so I can better see what’s going on. You can’t be trusted to stay alert and aware of your surroundings.
And so it was that we all went to dance together. With our seat belts on and our lap dog in tow.
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