My Cat Just Taught Me a Lesson in LOVE

I’m a busy mother of 3. I have a one and a half year old, a six year old and a 7 year old, a husband, dog, cat and a business to run. I’ve learned that sometimes I can’t get it all done and I’ve also learned that my pets are the last to get the attention. Pre-kids, my animals were my babies, now, I still love them a ton but everything else seems to be priority. They still get loving, but I often feel guilty that they are not getting the loving they deserve.

Last week I was petting my cat and when my hand reached his rear I felt several big clumps of matted hair. My cat was turning into a rustaferian!!! I was so mad at myself!! How could I have let my cat get so matted? I’ve been petting him, but now realizing I might have been doing the quick head, shoulder and behind the ears rub, not the full body. POOR BAILEY!! Not just for the matted hair but for the overall lack of attention.

So feeling like a piece of sh**, I grab some scissors and start to cut out some of these dreds. After a few minutes my cat lost patience so I let him go and committed to getting back to it. Last night, as Bailey walked past me in the kitchen modeling his now patchey coat, I was reminded that I needed to finish the job. It was midnight, I was tired, but I thought I can’t put this off. I grabbed the scissors and started to clip the clumps. It was going great until Bailey moved. He moved and my scissors scrapped him along his back, giving him about a one inch cut that started to bleed. I felt like sh**. I not only had neglected my cat to the point he was wearing dreds, but now I stabbed him with scissors. What the hell kind of cat mom am I?

When my husband returned from walking the dog (yes at midnight!! If we don’t walk her before bed she sometimes has an accident and she had already been stinking up the house with her toots, so we knew she had something brewing), I told him what happened and burst into tears. He reassured me and said it didn’t look that bad. I disinfected Bailey’s wound and told him he’d have to stay in for the night. I went up to bed, still feeling guilty, started to read my book and Bailey jumped onto my chest. He curled up, getting comfortable and started to lick my hands.

My cat loves me unconditionally! I can let his hair get out of control, forget to feed him till noon and stab him (accidentally!!) with scissors and he still loves me. Last night I felt like my cat was saying to me. You are doing the best that you can and that’s perfect! I love you for who you are and I’m doing just fine.

Who knew a cat could teach such an amazing lesson. True love is to love a person for who they are from the inside out…quirks, personality traits, likes,dislikes, and even moments of insanity. LOVE… while expecting nothing in return.

Written by:Jacquie Hermans,
Inspirational Comedian
www.lightnup.ca