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How To Be Cool When You’re Single
Before moving to the condo in my hip, new neighborhood, I agonized over what to do about my cat. Lily had spent 12 bucolic years lounging, mostly outside, in the sun-baked garden dirt. I gathered advice at pet stores about bringing her indoors. I bought a bunch of gear. Scratch pad, litter box, mouse toys. But the news was grim. Friends took me aside, and begged me not to do it. You’ll ruin her life, they said, and she’ll ruin yours. It was a wrenching decision, like Sophie’s choice. Do I take Lily with me, to live in hemmed in agony, or leave her (with the man who’d help raise her) in the tree-lined street she called home. I considered putting her on a leash, to walk around the new hood, which considering its denizens, wouldn’t be so weird. But I knew she’d hate it, and I didn’t have that much self esteem. (P.S. I visit Lily regularly and she seems to be thriving without me.)
Image from Coolness Graphed
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It is considerate of you to take into account your cat’s feelings over the move. Moving can be stressful on a cat or they take it in stride. Most people say it is all stress but my cat moved for the first time when she was 10, adapted well until bully cats came into the house I was living. At 13 years, she traveled 1,500 miles with me and other than an acute arthritis attack requiring a steroid injection she was fine. I am of the impression cats adapt better than we humans give them credit for – so if you wanted Lily to have a visit with you maybe give the indoor kitty thing a try. Otherwise, good to know she’s happy where she is and you visit often. 🙂
p.s. I think your graph is missing a line at the bottom where Cat Lady is deemed classy. Or some other equally positive but opposite adjective of ‘very cool’ which is being occupied by the sex icon of Cat Woman.
Good for you. What a tough decision.
I left a beloved foster cat with a guy I dated. He liked the cat better than me. = ) I haven’t been able to visit him regularly, so I’m glad it worked out with you and Lily.
CC
When I moved to my new neighborhood, I was so stressed. I’d been living with my dear friend, William, for almost 10 years, and had deep ties to our street. My dog Rose, was having a hard time adjusting too. Everyone told me that in order to move Lily, I’d f have to keep her locked in one room for a week, so she wouldn’t run away. At the time, I didn’t have the emotional stamina to listen to hear moan to get out. And I knew she already had a good home.
I’ve heard that cats are more connected to place. And dogs are more connected to people.