What Cats Teach Us About Life: Wisdom from Our Feline Friends

I am a firm believer that we are given what we need to grow in life.  I also believe that I am supposed to have the cats I have, those are Charlie and Trigg and that I was supposed to have Rags.  Although, he, technically, is not mine, I have a very strong bond with Caymus, so he is also included.  If you have read about me, then you know that I lived with Caymus and Murphy at my parents’ house when Rags was first diagnosed with lymphoma.  It wasn’t until I started dating Bill that I began to appreciate the gentle giant in Caymus.  So sometimes it takes someone else to point out what a great cat you have!  I’ve been madly in love with my Caymus ever since.

Here is what my cats have taught me:

Rags (8/8/88-3/30/09)

Rags taught me the value of unconditional love and the power of wisdom.  He was my friend until the end and continues to teach me lessons by the things he taught me.  We lost a very close family friend, Curtis, shortly after Rags passed.  Our family friend died of a heart attack – we were not able to say goodbye.  Rags’ passing helped me understand the process and get through it smoothly (although it would have been nice to have Rags around when Curtis died!!).

Through his chemo treatments and then Chronic Renal Failure diagnosis, Rags taught me that just because the doctor says it, doesn’t mean it’s so.  Rags was given 4-8 months to live if given chemo, he lived 3 more years.  Rags was given 2 weeks to live when diagnosed with Chronic Renal Failure and lived 3 more months.

Caymus (8/5/04-12/12/20)

Caymus has taught me the beauty of being a sensitive and sweet soul.  Watching him interact with Rags taught me a respect for my elders.

I have learned you can be fat and fabulous.

Caymus settles my soul and gives me a peace I didn’t know existed until I accepted him and loved him.

Charlie (7/23/09 –   )

Charlie has taught me that you can be more than what you are.  Charlie is much more than a cat and knows it.  He is here to heal me and help me more than I’ve figured out so far.  He is an old soul and a wise one, much like my Rags, so there is more to learn from him.

Trigg (8/19/09 –   )

Trigg has taught me the joy of life that every day brings.  He is the most content soul when he is in his world, and I have come to realize that I am the same way – that is, that I am content when I am the most content soul when I am in my world.

Trigg is the funniest cat I have ever met.  He does the quirkiest things that make me laugh out loud.  Rags and Charlie made me laugh too by hiding and scaring me, but Trigg is an absolute joy to watch.  His zest for life is so fun and glee-ful.

He has taught me to enjoy life, but has also taught me that I have a lot to teach him about self confidence (which I have helped Caymus on).

I was inspired to write this post after watching Oprah’s Farewell show where she talked about listening to that little voice inside of you.  I don’t know if the cats help me bring that out or not – and maybe this is so far-fetched that every one will think I’m nuts…but I am still interested – what have your kitties taught you?