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To bite or not to bite?
The joys of Feline friendship
“ … there’s this little creature in your house, you hug and cuddle a lot; you don’t speak the same language; you’re best friends and they trust you; but they also bite you sometimes. You make up little songs about them; they don’t know your name; you fall asleep next to each other …”
Few things compare to the simple joy of cat ownership. Welcoming one of these enigmatic creatures into your home opens up a world of quirky delights mixed with loving affection. Communication may be hampered by the lack of a common vocabulary, but a shared language exists nonetheless in the form of routines, physical touch, and emotional intuition.
The foundation of the human-cat relationship is trust; though cats maintain an air of stoic independence, in reality they place themselves in a vulnerable position by rely on their human for food, safety, healthcare, and shelter. Unlike the structured obedience displayed in human-canine bonds, cats accord affection and respect only when earned through patient effort. The gradual solidifying of mutual trust manifests physically, such as when a cat first deigns to jump in their human’s lap, or emotionally, as when they respond to a soothing voice amidst thunderstorm anxiety.
This dance of bonding features missteps as well revelatory breakthroughs. The…
