The Cat Man and Yes You Can Change
Can A Cat Change You
Here is the story.
Until I was 50 years old, I had never had a cat. I had always had dogs.
Through the years I have had some wonderful friends in dog form and they added much to my life.
Firedog and his buddy off on an adventure
Me and Firedog who some of you have seen in the Videos are still good buddies and we hang around together.
I did not dislike cats I just had never been around them. Didn't want to be around them. Growing up one of my sisters was allergic to cats and so that were not allowed around.
Then I turned 53.
I was single at the time and did not have a dog companion.
I purchased a farm and the people who owned the property before moved off and left a seal point Siamese behind. This cat was raised by an elderly woman who loved and spoiled it. The cat was an indoor cat and treated well. When the women died it came to live on the farm and was now an outside cat that was not wanted.
When the former owners were there, they had tried to run it off. Their kids were charged with running it off and so it was pretty much traumatized.
When I first moved in if I was outside it would come and circle about me about 10 feet away and meow. If I made any move toward it, off it would go. You could tell it wanted attention but was afraid. For about three months this went on.
On the back deck I had a big sliding glass door and shortly after I moved there I started feeding it on the back deck. Each day I moved its food a little closer to the glass door. Finally, we got where he would eat his food right outside the glass door and I could stand on the inside while he ate without him running off.
I had heard the story of how it had been an indoor cat when it was younger and so one day I slowly opened the door and asked it if it wanted to come inside. It looked at me for a minute then bolted through the door.
That night he slept in bed with me under my arm and has done that every night since then. For three months he would not go back outside. If you opened the outside door he would run and hide.
My new friend Don Gato began to educate me about cats. Remember I was over half a century old and never been around them other to pet them once in a while.
Don Gato enjoying me watching a movie
Well not long after my Cat etiquette education began along comes George. He was a stray that showed up as a young kitten and Gato invited him to stay.
Gato and George Chilling Last Weekend
To make a long story short we now have 5 cats. Each night one sleeps beside me, one of top of me, one at my feet and one under my arm. The other one sleeps with someone else.
If I sit down what you see in the picture is pretty well what happens every time.
Now I am known as, "The Cat Man".
At least it is not, "The Crazy Cat Man."
How do I get along with cats. Let's just say I am well-trained.
What does that have to do with Wealthy Affiliate?
Is a lot to do with what do here. It is just an example that we can learn new things. Try things that we have never tried before and have them enrich our lives.
Long as we are open to change then change can be a good thing.
That is what Wealthy Affiliate is all about learning new things and changing.
If I can become the Cat Man you can do this.
Onward and Upward.
PS. Those of you that have seen Firedog the producer of the videos. He is cool with the cats being around. George the orange cat in the picture is his best friend.
Recent Comments
100
Beautiful story Bob, you are a very good man. My mom always told me, who doesn't like animals do not love people. Yes, we can change, we don't like this, we don't like that! I tried to do things I don't like (cooking, reading cartoon, facebook....) and now I understand better why people like it.
Thank you
Best,
How beautiful and heartwarming! The 6 point Siamese sure is beautiful!
Though difficult to understand how humans can be heartless towards animals, hurt people hurt other people, other animals or anything that makes them feel powerful! Definitely not the right way in regaining one's power of self
You are a Lind soul !
Thank you and yes people think they gain power by being heartless when it steals power from them.
What a heartwarming story - thank you Bo! I was teary-eyed to hear how poor little Don Gato was mistreated! Shame on humans who do things like that.
I have a VERY BIG soft spot for animals and can't handle it when they are abused or mistreated, regardless whether they are cats, dogs, elephants, donkeys, rabbits or whatever.
Awww, and that photo of Firedog and the chick on his paw is equally adorable too! Please give him a hug for being so kind and gentle. ;-)
Thank you for providing a loving and caring home for all your lovely animals, Bo! From the photos it is clear that they are so happy and grateful to have found a friend in you! ;-)
Thank you for sharing this lovely story Bo! [wink] "You are tops!", says Don Gato and friends. :-)
Sharlee (Chocolate IceCream)
Firedog is a gentle giant. He always helps raise the baby chicks and turkeys. He will lay there and let them crawl all over him.
I see you know where the Don Gato name came from.
Awww, isn't that awesome? Now you will REALLY have to give Firedog a big hug and tell him that it comes with love from me! ;-)
:-) No, I've had no idea. I was just looking at that adorable little cat face that looks so content there on your lap and with the little paw on you, and was just thinking I'm sure that is probably what little Don Gato would want to tell you. ;-)
But after your comment, I googled it. You talk about the children's song? :-) First word I heard of it, it definitely wasn't part of our children's story/song repertoire. ;-) (I probably would've cried my eyes out about that story when I was young!) :-) LOL!
Enjoy your lovely animals Bo! And thank you for providing such a safe and loving environment for them! ;-) (Says a passionate animal lover!) ;-)
Sharlee (Chocolate IceCream)
Lovely story Bo.
I am a Dogman myself, having been a dog handler in the police and have never enjoyed cats. Never disliked them, they were just never my cup of tea.
My kids had cats and if there is a cat within a km they will b-line straight for my lap! Who knows?
Well Cat man.. And its so amazing how cats have gotten such a reputation as not friendly. Many of my friends have cats and they speak about them in sacred terms.
I, on the other hand have never had a relationship with a cat. The only one I have had experience with ...besides sneezing.. lol, was one that was so sneaky... it made me jumpy... grin..
So I guess if at 53 you learned you can accept cats. We can all learn something new then.. yes? As we do each day at WA.
Hmm do you think there will be more cats in your future?
Really liked the visual of the cats acting also as protection around you as you sleep. Sweet.
Do they let you turn over if you have too?? My daughter says her cat is not happy if she moves...I bet they all have amazing personalities too.
Great story as always.
The only one not happy is the one that sleeps on my legs. He is the oldest of the bunch and will tell me about it if I move to much. George the orange cat will bite your feet if you move them around to much at night.
Being a cat person you almost brought tears to my eyes. I have 3 right now and was up to 5 at one point. Each one is oh so special. I could not be without a cat curled up beside me. And yes learning new things is harder when you get older I should know. I am way older than you! But I am learning and trying each day. I will never be one of the superstars but that is OK with me. That is not my goal. I want to master one site at a time. Enjoy your new found friends.
If you are way older than me you are up there in years. I turn 67 this year. My goal is to enjoy life and I am doing that. My new found friends like the bird in your profile picture.
I will be 67 also later in the year. So we are neck and neck. I guess if I think about it my main goal is the same as yours.
Awwwww! I wish there was a Love button here instead of just Like! I love a good cat conversion story! The same thing happened with my Dad, my husband and now my father-in-law! Most people who think they don't like cats, just feel that way because they were raised that way and never had a nice cat around!
My husband had been begging for another kitty for a long time. We finally got our 4th rescued kitty last month! She is 14 years young and adores him! She is his girl. She is in very good health and even has good teeth which is unusual at that age. She is spry and you would not guess her age at all. Nevertheless, she sat at the pet food store in a cage for 3 weeks and no one else wanted her! She is an adorable little calico. They didn't want an old cat.
We have an orange boy (our first) who looks just like your George! He is our baby. I need to start a guest column on my cat site for my husband. I want to call it "Kitty Daddy".
Great story Bo! I am so glad you have such good buddies!
Jessica
Hi Bo,
Maybe I should address you as "Catman". I think that is wonderful.
My best friends through the years have been feline. I lived for many years on Wake Island where I had most of them as our population was small and by their nature it was a little hard to communicate comfortably.
Today Sue and I have an Orange and White much like George , whose name is Keoni. We had a Seal Point named Prescott who passed on a couple of years ago.
Thanks for sharing.
Bill
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Great post Bo, I am too a cat lover. Wasn't until I married my wife. Now I cannot be away from my cat Caesar. We had a female cat that only listened to my wife. She passed 3 weeks ago and we still grieve for her. She had mouth cancer and she left us very fast, 2 weeks after she was diagnosed.
Nice to hear you have changed your tune about cats, now if I can only allow myself to love dogs!
Frank!
I am so sorry Frank! So very, very sorry you lost your kitty. I am glad you still have Caesar.
Thank you Jessica, for your comforting words. Just thinking about Tofu my eyes well up. I am not supposed to cry because I'm a macho-man, but what the heck nobody knows except you and me!
Thank you again Jessica, you're the bestest!
Frank =)
My husband is quite the kitty daddy. He convinced us to get our 4th kitty just last month. He was sad when I told him about your kitty and said to tell you we were very sorry as well.
I know of your pain. My friends are getting older the oldest is about 17 or 18 with 3 of them over 10. There short lives fill us with join but we pay in pain sometimes when they leave. To me it is worth the pain for the joy they bring. I think it is a small price to pay.
The problem is if you start loving dogs then I can say you have gone to the dogs.
Oh Frank so sorry!
Thanks Bo and yes it's all worth it.
Take care my friend!
Thank you Ariel, we're healing.
Frank!