My cat and dog act like they care about me, but, really it’s all about them
With more time to sit around and ponder stuff I have been observing our animals.
I think I am becoming an anthropomorphist or one who practices anthropomorphism, the practice of giving human characteristics to non-humans.
So I watch the animals. Sometimes they do seem human. The squirrels outside will bang on the screen if their feeder is empty. Birds fuss when you get too near a nest.
And I have become convinced that the cats are my personal protection squad.
For example, the other day I was working in the yard and when I looked at the house, the cats were laying in the windows, watching me closely. Obviously they were concerned for my safety in the hostile environment outdoors.
Then I decided to take a shower. There they were, prowling around the bathroom, even going into the shower to sniff around, as if clearing the way for me, like an advance team of the Secret Service, I thought.
They guarded my towel by sitting on it and keeping it warm. What devotion.
As I sat and ate, they stayed close by, perhaps ready to help me if I had a choking fit or something. They even offered to taste my food first to make sure it wasn’t adulterated.
I was touched but I declined.
Later, as I went to bed, my protection squad had already been in action, checking to see that the mattress and pillows were soft enough and if I had the covers spread out correctly. Then, as an added precaution, they slept close by, sometimes right next to me or on me, to make sure I wasn’t disturbed during the night and didn’t come to harm.
I’m not sure what the wet nose in my ear in the middle of the night was for, but I am sure it was some kind of a protective measure I just didn’t understand. Checking to see if I was still alive, perhaps.
Likewise, the dog feels it her duty to go berserk when I am outside without her. She just can’t convince me what a dangerous world it is out there. So to try and instruct me, she barks endlessly at anything that moves outside, like someone walking a dog, delivery people and the occasional leaf moving on a tree.
She also is concerned when I eat and always offers to take care of any extra food lest I become overweight. She worries greatly if I eat steak, in case I eat too much red meat, I guess.
Animals only acting in their best interest?
Actually I don’t believe any of that. I am much more of a realist. While the animals do seem to care, mostly they care about what happens to them.
Almost anything a cat does can be chalked up to curiosity and self interest.
Dogs? It’s all about food. If you think your dog is staring at you in adoration try moving that piece of food that is in your hand and see what the dog watches.
They do try and help. Right now one of the cats is attempting to help me out by typing “dpo,l;wrrew) but they can’t spell worth a darn.
