“Every time the doorbell rings my four-year-old cat George is at the door to greet the guest. Extremely social, a massive attention seeker, loves to cuddle George has all traits of a lap-cat,” says human Sali Elagab. So, you see not every cat is aloof, some are social and as emotionally attached as dogs are. Today’s story is about busting some cat-conceptions (or misconceptions as some would say).
George was very young, perhaps a week old when he was rescued. He was spotted by a kind-hearted person behind a café in Ajman. Since he was very tiny, the rescuer thought the mother cat will soon appear. Even after an hour when there was no sign of mom the rescuer brought George with him who was then vet checked and lovingly fostered by his first hoomom RJ. George stayed with her for almost 1.5 years before Sali adopted him.
Also read: Cats also emotionally connect with humans
Cats are quite curious and funny
Named after Curious George II, the inquisitive monkey, George the cat is also quite curious. “Whenever I’m eating George has to come and take a close not to steal a snack but to see what’s in the plate,” Sali shares with a broad smile.
“Once he managed climb over two walls and landed himself at the parking lot of the building next to ours and then didn’t know what to do until I picked him up. Since then, I always walk him on the leash – something that people find extremely funny.”
Cats are instinctive
Recently when a series of tremors were felt in the UAE, one-night Sali woke up and found George staring at the window caterwauling. “The next morning, I read about the earthquake. For the next one week he was fearful of entering the bathroom to use his cat litter. Because a mop that was placed against the wall had fallen possibly due to the tremor.”
“George is also quite intuitive about time. Every morning like an alarm clock he wakes me up between 6-and-6:30AM not because he is hungry or needs to go for a walk. But because he wants to play with me before I leave for work.”
Cats have their own ways of showing emotion
We hear so many heart-warming stories about how dogs uplift their humans on days that feel blah. “Some cats do the same, George does,” Sali says. “On days when I feel really low, George simply won’t leave me alone. He starts off by cuddling and if that doesn’t help, he sits on my chest and keeps purring until I feel better.”
Cats can also suffer from separation anxiety
“Being abandoned as a kitten George does suffer from separation anxiety. It manifests in different ways such as overgrooming himself and clinging with me. So, after returning from work, I must spend quality playtime with him. Otherwise, he will keep meowing. If he sees that I’m not looking up from my laptop he even jumps at me for attention. It’s also quite funny the way George reacts when guests come over, always strategically plopping himself on the couch between the guest and me. Something that you’d normally expect a dog to do,” Sali shares.
Tips if you’re planning to foster/adopt a cat
Based on her experience Sali shared some practical tips for those planning to foster/adopt a cat.
- There is a common cat-conception that cats are aloof and independent by nature and will only engage when they want. But my experience has been much different. So, don’t underestimate the emotional aspect of having a cat.
- Another cat-conception is that cats can be left alone for an extended period unlike dogs. Again, my experience has been quite different. I’ve had to re-evaluate my social engagements after adopting George.
- Importantly, create a budget for pet care expenses, including regular food, toys as well as occasional veterinary expenses, cat sitting/boarding and pet relocation should the need arise.
