I want to tell you a little story. Sometime last year a pet "psychic" or "reader" offered her services to [this group] -- and was instantly, soundly and somewhat rudely rebuffed! I don't know her nor have I ever heard of her before that time, but since I have gone through therapy with a licensed psychiatrist -- and paid for his services! -- I thought, "Why not?"

You will recall (perhaps) that I have mentioned several times my sweet, gentle, lovable Bon Bon -- and the fact that the other cats kind of "pick on" her. I hated to see this happen, but wasn't sure what to do about it.

One day, I took Her Majesty into my room, closed the door, turned on some soft music, and held her close. I petted her and talked to her until she settled down on my lap. Then, I began to ask her some questions. "Why do you run from the other cats?" "Why do they attack you?"

After a while, I began to get the picture that she thought the other cats were all bigger, stronger, tougher and MEANER than she was or could ever be!

Stop here and think -- haven't you done this with your human children? Haven't you had to reinforce their courage from time to time? And don't you have special bonds with your furpeople in much the same way?

Please don't dismiss me as a "kook" or a complete idiot. I haven't gone "round the bend." I simply love Bon Bon in a very special way, and wanted to help her all I could.

I talked to Bonny at length. I told her that she was as strong as any of them, that she had rights and that I wanted her to defend herself. Bonny had one thing going for her that the other cats did not: She had a loud, fierce "jungle-type" roar which she seldom employed. I told her to use it whenever she needed to -- and to "Wop!" at the same time, instead of running to me for protection. Or at least to roar FIRST. then run if she had to do so.

Several days went by, with no apparent results. Then one day, I was reading in my room when a mighty roar all but shook the house! I jumped, my book went flying, and I yelled, "What the HECK was that?"

Of course, it was Bonny, stating her new code of honor out loud! They haven't completely decided to leave her alone. Gizzi in particular loves to leap on her sleeping little body. And most of the time she simply runs to me.

But once or twice a week, her mighty roar rings out. And I can only tell myself, "Well, I TOLD her to do it, didn't I???"

And such is life in Cat Country!

Copyright © Renee Darvin
October 8, 2003