Anti-cat people: These people will always think you are a complete idiot for liking such [insert bad words here] creatures that cats are. Don't bother with them. I have quit talking to such people because all they want to do is tell me what they like doing to cats and they enjoy watching me get upset. Basically they are cruel heartless sods who enjoy watching the suffering of others. Steer clear at all costs.

Catless people: Catless people don't understand how you feel. These are not the cat-hating variety, they just have yet to experience the pleasure of feline company and are therefore living not in hatred but in ignorance. If you have stranger-friendly cats, invite them over and let your cats make friends with them. Even if they don't rush out and get a cat all of their own, they may come to understand that your cats are as much a part of your life as their kids are to theirs.

Cat-friendly people: These ones are probably just giving you some friendly teasing, since they really *do* understand - they are just pretending not to. Just deal the teasing back at them. If they really didn't like you, they wouldn't take you out for a beer.

However, just to see it from the other side for a moment: are you a cat bore? You know how some people just bore you to death with stories about how wonderful their children are, and you really don't want to hear about how terribly clever and adorable little Jamie is again? And you really wish they'd just shut up because although their kids are OK, you just don't need to hear about them *all* the time from someone who is clearly *obsessing* about their children? They're children bores. There's one person in my life that wanted to tell me in minutiae of her son's life, and I can assure you that I'm not at all interested in the contents of his diapers. I really don't want to hear another word about her son, and quietly wish she'd get a life. I'm not saying you act that way, but that's how others may perceive you.

Your co-workers may not want to hear all about your wonderful critters, but we do. We are cat slaves and understand perfectly. Sharing cat stories here will win you kudos, not groans. And if you don't share your stories with your co-workers, all the more for us. Bring them on! And if you put every single picture up on your web page or want to post you pictures to alt.binaries.pictures.animals then most of us would be very happy to look through every single one of them. Honest. We enjoy door greetings and the wonderful serenity purrs can bring as well.

Copyright © Vicky Chapman
July 1, 2000