Passion, Dedication, and Time

I find the way to live life is by wanting. One needs to want and then create a focus around what they want. Then put everything into that focus: passion, dedication, and time. My cats are one of my focuses in life and I have to be there for them with love, I have to fill their needs, and give them time. When you have a focus in life, you will find that things will no longer work on your terms but on your focus's. Cats don't go on one's time, it's on theirs. When they need something, is when they'll get it, be it food or affection. I'm awakened every night at three in the morning so Ramona can be petted. She'll walk on me, she'll get on my desk and knock stuff over if that's what it takes to wake me up, but she will be petted. And though I'm always a little grumpy at the moment, I will pet her because what one wants, they want because they love, and I wanted her and I love her and I will sacrifice my time and sleep for her. I feel with this dedication a great bond forms, and I can affect positively the lives of other living things.

Cats themselves also have focuses in their lives. They're pretty much about getting what they want, usually for survival, but sometimes for personal appeasement. I feel like hunting is one of their focuses. I haven't actually seen any of my cats hunt, and I kind of don't want to because I'm not a big fan of the circle of life, but I have seen their cousins, lions, hunt and I feel like they have a passion for killing. And once they kill they seem to happily munch on their trophy. Hunting would take great dedication and time, when thinking about the patience in seeking prey and coming up on it, and then going at it until successfully catching something. This is a very is important focus for them because it provides a huge necessity known as food.

"How to Find Your Purpose and Do What You Love" uses a quote by philosopher Dan Dennett saying, "Find something more important than you are and dedicate your life to it." Finding something to become dedicated to can be something quite difficult. There's many things that interfere with the choice one makes. People that are in one's life and the world will affect what one will choose. It's key to ignore those people and center on what one alone really wants, and even ignore want they want to want to find what they can that they will truly enjoy. Finding a focus, something to dedicate oneself to, kind of motivates one to live. It gets one to do something in this life and possible do something effective in this world, big or small. Getting by in the world and doing things isn't a breeze if there's no passion to things, that's why people need to find a focus that they have a real liking for and dedicate themselves to it and spend the time in their lives doing it.

Works Cited

Popova, Maria. "How to Find Your Purpose and Do What You Love." Brain Pickings. N.p. n.d. Web. 9 Nov. 2014

being different

I often joke about Ramona not knowing how to be cat. I feel like she kind of tries to be, but isn't quite successful. First off of course is her hunting skills, because it's just so bad, but boy does she still try. I've mentioned her hiding is terrible, because I think she doesn't fully understand what it means to hide. She also though has quite an interesting technique in attack. When she's playing with a rubber band, her favorite type of toy and also snack, she swats it around and then pounces on it all leading to the final move where she stands on her back legs, shrugging her shoulders with front legs extended and paws clasping together to try and capture the rubber band in between them, before tumbling down and twitching all over the floor. I'm not actually sure if this is a common move for cats, but normal or not, she actually fails at it quite often. Sometimes she fails to actually capture the rubber band and recently I saw her do a somersault while trying to grab it. Hunting something living is beyond her. I've seen her stare at birds flying above her as she watches with sad eyes and gives a disappointed meow as she extends her paw up reaching for the impossible. Her attempt at climbing a tree came to an end when she reached a spot no longer wanting to go higher and she just looked around like it was complete craziness. She doesn't really even have friends because I don't think she knows how to play with others, there's good intention in her eyes but the other cats just feel attacked and threaten by her, and often I just have to try and stop her because she won't give them peace when they need it. Of course sometimes she does intentionally attack others because she can be a bully, but that's only sometimes. What I mean to get from all this, is well, she's weird, but I love her for her quirks.

Weird-Bird

Birds are flyin' south for winter.

Here's the Weird-Bird headin' north,

Wings a-flappin', beak a-chatterin',

Cold head bobbin' back 'n' forth.

He says, "It's not that I like ice

Or freezin' winds and snowy ground.

It's just sometimes it's kind of nice

To be the only bird in town."

I felt this poem by Shel Silverstein was appropriate because, though it doesn't talk about a cat different from other cats, it talks about a bird that's different. That "Weird-Bird" goes north instead of south, unlike the rest of the birds because it likes to be the only of its kind in an area. I see this as one enjoying the feeling of not having any others like one around being able to feel almost special. Being different brings one to stand out and gives the feeling of being an own individual. Being different brings others to love and appreciate one, like I do with Ramona.

Works Cited

Silverstein, Shel. "Weird-Bird." Famous Poets and Poems. N.p. n.d. Web. 2 Nov. 2014.

Communication

Isn't it a truly incredible thing that one can communicate without words? A point can be made by expressions and body language, and it can happen between different species. For the most part I can figure out what my cats are feeling or what they want. Ramona, who is actually pretty vocal, has different meows for different things. A meow for when she wants to be petted, a meow for food, and a meow when she's displeased, along with her growling and hissing. But with those meows are expressions and body language that add emphases to what she wants. She'll nudge to be petted, and for food she'll guide me to her bowl and then to the bag of food repeatedly until I fill her bowl with food. When she's not happy she'll give me an annoyed look with her eyes narrowed and ears pointed to the side, and if I'm holding her against her will she flicks her tail as a warning before full on attacking me, where then, of course, her message is fully received. When she wants to attack another cat, her growl and hissing happen with a determined look and her body low to the ground preparing for attack, and if I'm next to her she'll give me a look almost saying, "let me at 'em." Then also when she wants a door to be opened, either to go in or out, she'll stare at it then back at me and also tap on it with her paws. The four outdoor cats also do this to get my attention, they'll stand against the door and tap on it whenever I'm in view.
Last week I mentioned the cat kiss, which is a thing a cat does to to show affection, well I read more on it in "Cat Kisses" where the author writes that one must learn their cat and pay attention to the rest of the cat and the environment to truly assess what the cat is feeling. That makes sense when thinking about it, it's pretty much like people, while there's a general reaction for feelings, people are different and express things differently as well as react differently to things. The author also mentioned that cat's eyes reflect a lot on how a cat is feeling, also mentioning the narrowed eye thing of being unhappy, as Ramona does. The main thing is to get familiar with the cat and be aware of what's going on at the moment.
I found a few more things on "What Your Cat's Body Language Is Saying." They talk about other indications of a cat's emotions such as the pupil of a cat. Though their pupils do act with lighting, it can also indicate other things such as fear, when the pupils are large, or anger, when pupils are narrowed. I see it like demonstrating that eyes can never fully hide what truly is felt. Another thing is that their tail also plays a role in a cat's mood. Held high it shows confidence and when it curls around another animal it shows friendliness. There tail is equivalent to almost the posture of a person, the way someone might carry themselves, it's not quite a difficulty to identify those with confidence versus those who almost want to be invisible, same with animals as humans if you pay attention. This website also brings up the fact that cats don't actually meow much to each other but only to receive something, whether it be attention or food. Ramona meowing would really be her just trying harder to get what she wants from me. Before anything their expressions and actions will be used to demonstrate what is going on with them, then the meowing will come for more affect, yet humans look for vocal signals more to understand one another.
I find it quite fascinating that different species can express themselves with one another without sharing a language, there's just an international, interspecies form of communication. Humans are always caught up in trying to figure out what to say to be understood or the words used when trying to understand, when really there's much more. Pay attention to body language, the expression given, the look in one's eyes, and use all of yourself to make a point. It can be surprising how much can be commuted without words.

Works Cited

"Cat Kisses." Cat Behavior Associates. Don Wright Designs. n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2014.

"What Your Cat's Body Language Is Saying." WebMD. N.p. n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2014.

A Cat's Love

Little do people realize how loving cats can actually be. Are they independent? Yes? Does that mean they're heartless? No. OK, so cats aren't like dogs who wag their tails with joy, or jump up when they see their owner. Cats are a little more subtle with their love. And yes, if one needs love to like bam right in your face, it's possible this love can be missed. The "cat kiss" is a one way a cat can show affection. A "cat kiss" is just simply a slow blink a cat does to another animal or human who they like. It's such a simply gesture that one who doesn't know of it could let go by without realizing. To also demonstrate cats capability of loving, let me just talk about my cats. Cats also nudge ones head with theirs to be affectionate. Ramona does this a lot. Almost every night before I go to sleep she joins me on my bed and nudges at me to where I'll pet her and she'll purr for a good amount of time, then she goes to the foot of my bed and falls asleep right next to my legs. Cats also like to be around one, whether right next to or not, they might just be in the same room. My outdoor cats always come when they see me. I'll open that door and one by one they show up. Retro will even wait for me. She will sit by the door all day, and when she sees me she'll tap on the door with her paws. They might not even really like me petting them, because it's not something they're used to, but I feel they enjoy my presence as I enjoy theirs. Cats have big hearts, one must also learn to feel love rather then just see it.

Retro

Picture I took of Retro

Retro is art. She's a white canvas with black and an orangey color splattered on her. Then to top it all off, a light green jewel that is her eye. Around the time that she was one, she was attacked and lost her right eye. By what she was attacked, no one will ever know, but it's something that haunts me every day. Now there's just one eye to look at, That one eye always sucks me in and once I get captured in it, it's pretty much impossible to escape. That eye holds so much emotion and it's almost like she passes it down to me, because I start hurting. There's pain, fear, and a strong desire. Then there's her meow. It sounds almost defeated. In her meow there's hopeful hopelessness that makes you want to try, that makes you want to fall to your knees and surrender. She wants to be heard and seen, but doesn't know how to react to attention. She wants to be loved, but doesn't know how to be.

        SUEÑO DE GATOS

Qué bonito duerme un gato,
duerme con patas y peso,
duerme con sus crueles uñas,
y con su sangre sanguinaria,
duerme con todos los anillos
que como círculos quemados
construyeron la geología
de una cola color de arena.

Quisiera dormir como un gato
con todos los pelos del tiempo,
con la lengua del pedernal,
con el sexo seco del fuego
y después de no hablar con nadie,
tenderme sobre todo el mundo,
sobre las tejas y la tierra
intensamente dirigido
a cazar las ratas del sueño.

He visto cómo ondulaba,
durmiendo, el gato: corría
la noche en él como agua oscura,
y a veces se iba a caer,
se iba tal vez a despeñar
en los desnudos ventisqueros,
tal vez creció tanto durmiendo
como un bisabuelo de tigre
y saltaría en las tinieblas
tejados, nubes y volcanes.
Duerme, duerme, gato nocturno
con tus ceremonias de obispo,
y tu bigote de piedra:
ordena todos nuestros sueños,
dirige la oscuridad
de nuestras dormidas proezas
con tu corazón sanguinario
y el largo cuello de tu cola.

Poem by Pablo Neruda

     Cat's Dream

How neatly a cat sleeps,
sleeps with its paws and its posture,
sleeps with its wicked claws,
and with its unfeeling blood,
sleeps with all the rings--
a series of burnt circles--
which have formed the odd geology
of its sand-colored tail.

I should like to sleep like a cat,
with all the fur of time,
with a tongue rough as flint,
with the dry sex of fire;
and after speaking to no one,
stretch myself over the world,
over roofs and landscapes,
with a passionate desire
to hunt the rats in my dreams.

I have seen how the cat asleep
would undulate, how the night
flowed through it like dark water;
and at times, it was going to fall
or possibly plunge into 
the bare deserted snowdrifts.
Sometimes it grew so much in sleep
like a tiger's great-grandfather,
and would leap in the darkness over
rooftops, clouds and volcanoes.

Sleep, sleep cat of the night,
with episcopal ceremony
and your stone-carved moustache.
Take care of all our dreams;
control the obscurity
of our slumbering prowess
with your relentless heart
and the great ruff of your tail.

Translation by Alastair Reid


You can never go wrong with a poem by Pablo Neruda, so here's a poem by him about, of course, cats. I put in the Spanish version because those who can read Spanish should experience it in that language since it is the way it was originally written, and there's nothing like reading something the way the writer made it. For those who can't read Spanish, I'm sorry. But that is why I put the English translation for it, and it is a good translation, so I'm sure it can still be enjoyed. Cats sleep for about seventy percent of their lives, so of course if one writes a poem about a cat it makes sense to write about it sleeping. I think this poem does a beautiful job in capturing the nature of cats. It shows even as it sleeps these animals are still these beasts with no fear of killing. Neruda says, "sleeps with its wicked claws and its unfeeling blood." Even at rest, it will not separate from its weapons and instinct. I'm a believer that cats dream, and kind of like Neruda describes, I think they dream of being powerful. "Sometimes it grew so much in sleep like a tiger's great-grandfather, and would leap in the darkness over rooftops, clouds, and volcanoes." I think in time of sleep, cats truly don't stop being ruthless, tough, predators, nor do they need to stop. I think one of the best things about a cat sleeping is that although they are these beasts in there minds while sleeping, they can still look so peaceful and innocent. There's such calmness in them that contrasts the intensity of hunting, and I strangely find beauty in that.

Team Cats

I'm destined to become that crazy cat lady who lives alone with about twenty cats, and frankly, I don't mind. Though I have chosen to start early and surround myself with cats, I sadly do not have twenty yet, only five. But they are wonderful and they will do. I actually used to not be a fan of cats and was one hundred percent team dog, but early June of 2011 God sent down the gift of cat to me. A stray birthed four kittens in my backyard, they got the names Nugget, Hurricane, Retro, and Megantron. Throughout these years I've been nourishing them and working to gain their trust. A year later, in May 2012, my friend gave me a kitten from her cat's litter. She became Ramona, the one who lives inside. Having these cats brought out an obsession in me. They're such fascinating creatures it's impossible to not fall in love.

My cats are killers. I love this trait because I can appreciate it. Also because it can be funny to see Ramona try to be a hunting machine. They have sharp claws and sharp teeth that tear at the flesh, and it hurts when they want it to. They have a technique where they hook their claws in you and curl their paw to make it impossible to escape, my heart stops whenever I'm the victim. There's always that moment that I think I'm not going to get my hand back. They also throw swipes. When I have treats Hurricane throws them like a professional boxer. Though I feel the pain of their killer skills I appreciate it because it's just amazing, these animals were born to survive. They earn  things and I have fully respect for that. Though the species has survival instincts of course there's always those who lack certain things and wouldn't possibly make it. Let's just say it's a good thing Ramona's a domestic cat. She is beautiful. Sadly with that beauty comes no camouflage, she of course isn't aware of that. She thinks being hunched over, or being next to something means she is unseen. Well, a blind person could see her. It's very cute to see her try and stalk though. She is viscous, so I'll give her that. She doesn't really have friends because she thinks it's OK to attack everything that moves. And she's territorial. And selfish, so nothing comes near what's hers. The other day when I was petting Nugget she began to growl, and dear God I swear that growl is that of demon. Though they're sometimes cool, Ramona tries to start a fight with one of them every so often. I can only hope she learns to behave someday.