Carolines Blog - Today's Post

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Original Message -----
Sent: March 30, 2005 13:04
Subject: Carolines Blog - Today's Post
March 30, 2005
when cats fight
One morning, as I was blearily coming to
consciousness, I became aware of my cat (the fat one pictured to the
--->) hoping up and down by my feet, pawing the comforter and the
footboard. How cute, she's dancing, I thought. Then I thought, wait a
minute, isn't that her litter box routine? Then I saw the poop. Yup,
the cat had just used my bed as a litter box. With me still in it.
So I spanked her little bottom and
rubbed her face in it.
Of course, I DID NOT do that. Cat
psychologists say cats do not benefit from punishment; it only teaches
them fear, not what is right or what is wrong. I knew my cats were in
the middle of a dominance struggle and this is a feline battle
strategy. Alex(andra) was laying claim to Jenny's preferred sleeping
spot in the same 'scorched-earth' manner of Alexander the Great. Note
to self: never name pets after world conquerors.
I hopped out of bed and washed
everything in detergent and enzymatic cleaners to remove all traces of
her sin. Then I instilled in them the belief that the bed is not a
litter box by feeding and playing with them there. Then I declared an
end to their little war by establishing a clear line of dominance. Me
first, then Alex (the little rotter) and then sweet Jenny. Whoever said
the meek shall inherit the earth? Oh yeah, it was Jesus.
The experts agree that the most
aggressive animal should be the dominant one unless I was willing to
mess with their brain chemistry by feeding valium to one and serotonin
to the other. But there are limits to how far I'm willing to go in the
interest of social justice.
Well, it's been a number of years
since then and both cats live peaceably, as peaceably as two fallen
creatures can, only putting up the occasional fight for my
entertainment. Alex now sleeps in the spot she claimed and Jenny has
found a new spot by my side. They eat from the same food bowl and drink
from the same water dish and have been known to kiss each other in
greeting.
I was thinking last night how
differently and strangely each of us hear and understand God when this
incident bubbled up from my subconscious. Quite often when someone
talks about what God said to them, God's words are layered and infused
with judgment, condemnation and wrath. Quite often, I think this is not
the voice of God I heard.
So somewhere in Mississauga, Ontario
lives a crazy cat lady who is patient and understanding with her cats,
who never freaks out on them and start beating them up. Somewhere in
Mississauga, Ontario, there are two cats who do not spend their days in
fear, alternately avoiding and fighting their owner. And their God is
far more loving, gracious, kind, merciful and understanding than she is.
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