Thankful for My Cat

Posted on by Joyful2bee
I'm beautiful and I know it.
I’m a great cat!

I am very thankful for the companionship of my cat, Norie. This black cat is one of the joys of my life. She is a source of laughter, companionship, amazement, challenge, and life lessons.

Norie trusts me implicitly. She knows I would not hurt her on purpose. I have stepped on her paws or tail many times when she sat on the floor behind me where I couldn’t see her. (Black cats can be very stealthy and are not always seen easily.) She has never been reclusive or attacked me in anger for it. I always apologize and make a big fuss over her because I never want to hurt her, and I want her to know that.

I have carried heavy things and stepped over her multiple times in the past. She never moved because she trusts me. (Or she just doesn’t want to move?) Most cats run away when they see someone coming towards them carrying something big and bulky like a load of clean clothes.

I usually don’t ask her to move unless she is truly in the way. After all she is usually there first, even if it is my home! (Well she may have some delusions of ownership, as you can imagine.) LOL.

I trained her to move away from the front of the refrigerator door by saying, “Beep, beep.” Usually she moves because she sees that I can’t get to her refrigerated food. But I have used “Beep Beep” in other situations to get her to move and she usually gets up or moves.

Once when I was using a walker after foot surgery, she was blocking the bedroom doorway by lying on her side, spread out in both directions on the door sill. I approached with the walker and said, “Beep Beep.” She just laid there and watched me as I walked towards her. I said it more emphatically. She still didn’t move! I think she was a little confused because usually I can just roll over her if she is not obstructing the wheels. So I nudged her with my foot and she moved.

The next morning the same thing happened again. She was lying on her side in the doorway with front and back legs on one side and her tail extending on the opposite side of her body. She watched as I came towards her with the walker. I said, “Beep Beep” and waited.

There she lay. I repeated the magic words and she pulled her front legs in close to her body and looked at me as if to say, “Go ahead.” But her hind legs were still in the way on that side and her tail was still in the way on the other side of her body. So I repeated the words again. She pulled in her back legs and tail and pulled into “kitty loaf” position, so that I could pass over her.

I started laughing for several reasons. She was being lazy, sassy, trusting, “and very clever” all at the same time. I continued to laugh as I walked into the kitchen, realizing the intelligence and trust she has, knowing that I wouldn’t hurt her on purpose.

The other way she makes me laugh is joining me in my nightly exercises on the yoga mat. She loves to hear me flip the rolled up yoga mat open and comes running to attack it with her claws for some reason. Then I lie on my stomach and arch my back, lifting my upper body up with my arms twice for thirty seconds. She stops clawing and just lies beside me.

Helpful black cat keeping me company while I exercise.
Starting out on my stomach. Norie comes and puts her head against my arm.

When I turn over on my back she sometimes lies down beside my head on her back with her hind legs and tail up against my head. It’s like she is providing me with moral support. I end up laughing at her.

Black cat helping owner do exercises.
Norie providing moral support for my exercise program.

Then she lies down coyly, with her favorite straw which she almost looks at lovingly, as I hide it under the mat or scratch the mat with it making funny noises and she watches and dives under the mat to get the straw. So I play with her and take a break.

Norie reaching under yoga mat for favorite straw.
Norie reaching under yoga mat for favorite straw.

The one thing she does that drives me crazy has to do with her tummy. I can walk by her and see her, lying on her back. She gives me this cute look as her front paws rest on her chest and her soft, fuzzy belly almost invites me to rub it. But I know she does not like belly rubs. But she stays in that position and looks at me coyly.

One of Norie's cute belly poses.
That cute expression and exposed fuzzy belly makes me want to rub her belly.

If I move even a finger toward her belly, she watches it as if warning me that she will attack my finger. Sometimes, just a paw pushes it away, or she shakes her head rapidly. If all else fails, and I misread her warnings, I see her lunge at my hand to let me know I had better “move it or lose it!”

I know she hates belly rubs, so why does she tempt me like that? Just one of the mysteries of owning or being owned by a cat.

I respect her as a fellow being on this planet who is sharing her life with me. I appreciate her personality, friendship, humorous behaviors, and what she has taught me about living with another being. I am very thankful for our friendship.

36 thoughts on “Thankful for My Cat”

    1. I get all mushy inside when I see black kittens! They are so cute! And they grow into exquisitely beautiful teens and adults. Norie has bowled me over for black cats! She is intelligent, mischievous, curious, playful, and just beautiful! Can you tell I love my black cat?

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      1. The youngest here has taken on the responsibility of being the retriever kitty, like our old cat was. Roll one little bit of tissue and get his attention, then flick it away, to watch him bring it back for more and lots of praise. When he tires, he doesn’t bring it back and just plays with it.

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  2. She looks like my old cat Lacy who was all black with a white patch (or necklace) on her chest and abdomen. She also did the look at my tummy but don’t touch it routine. She wasn’t quite as sweet as Nori but she was a good cat when she wanted to be. Then I had Jake, my only boy cat and all black. He was quite the cat, loving and affectionate. Gone 4 years and I still miss him.

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    1. I totally agree! I sometimes think because of their color they were better hunters and therefore are better and lived longer and learned more. So they are more intelligent for the most part. But I am prejudiced! LOL

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  5. This was so much fun to read. You with the walker and Norie in the doorway was hilarious. For sure you never lack for entertainment. Your idea of the “beep beep” is great.

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      1. Thanks a ton. But I am a dog person and I am very fond of her like you are of your cat. I have never had a cat. So I don’t understand their behaviour. But my aunt had one and she treated her like her own child.

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        1. Geeta, it’s okay. The common theme is loving and being loved by a faithful animal. I had a sweet chihuahua/rat terrier named Chacha when I was a teenager. I loved her very much. We had a nice big yard for her. I am almost 72 and live in a condominium. I have back and knee problems and couldn’t walk a dog. I love cats and dogs, but the cat allows me to take care of her in spite of my physical problems. I have a screened in porch she loves to go out on and I know she’s safe and content. I needed a lower activity animal considering all of the factors. Hugs! And thanks for giving me a chance to explain.

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  8. I’m a black cat owner, myself. We had two but, sadly, lost one last November. But we still have the one, and she’s our baby. (Even though she’s 15!)

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  9. I can totally relate to this story about your cat Norie! It’s amazing to see the trust and understanding you have with her, even when you accidentally hurt her. I’m sure she will always remember your kindness and love. It’s so heartwarming to see how trusting and loyal cats can be! Thank you for sharing this story, it really made my day!

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  10. Thank you, Petfaq. She is the first cat I ever was “owned” by. I love for her to snuggle up to me at night. I never dreamed I would have such a beautiful, and intelligent cat. So glad I made your day!!

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