Still learning...

So, Faith and I have lived together now for over 2 months...and I am still learning what it is to be a cat-person. Let me say, coming strictly from a world of dogs, there are a lot of eye opening things in the cat-world. Ive gone from raw-hides and frisbees outside to cat-nip and feather toys to be flicked back and forth on the couch or bed. Now don't get me wrong, its not like my dogs being rejected or forgotten while I am slowly foraying into the cat-world. Ive just had to work lately on what it means to be a cat lover. As it happens, everything between the 2 species are going quite smoothly.

When Faith came home, I kept her in a HUGE dog cage in my room to keep the peace and allow them to meet and learn about each other, while keeping everyone safe (especially where I was working during the day). She swatted them each only one time, and they learned to give her her space. Now that we're living with my girlfriend and HER two dogs and new kitten (about 12 weeks old) she is very comfortable (although she is quite snobby =0)

So that's been our first learning experience...how to all live together in relative harmony.

But there are so many more things to know!

I bought them a cat-tree, which, up until tonight had lived in my room-it was right next to my dresser where I fed them. Now, however it is in a corner of our small cottage kitchen where they can be more active with it. Ive also had to do some research on food. I just switched my dogs off of raw, so this is another cross species project. Ive settled on a brand I like very much, so thats settled now too. Ive been down isles in the petstores that I would previously go down to get to the dog section, or ignored all together. But now Im going down them slower; taking everything in. I'm buying tiny mouse and bird toys, interactive toys with feathers on strings, things that crinkle and flash in the dark. I'm buying litter by the ton (although I did figure out that I wasn't putting enough in, so I started doing that and the box is lasting longer!) and I'm scooping it what seems like ten times a day! Although that too has gotten better...


I'm learning cats like to be touched in certain ares, and DO NOT like it in other areas...although Faith seems to like having her belly rubbed...just like my dogs. They need more canned food and less dry (the opposite of course from dogs). I'm learning that for me, having cats around is more beneficial at this time more so than my dogs. Let me explain:


My dogs, being mostly outdoor ladies (which I taught them-nothing is as nice as walking through the woods or though an open field on a farm on a beautiful day.) want to go go go. But being caught in this vortex of mental illness (depression, ptsd, and anxiety) I want to stay home and curl up. The cats are whose company I'm seeking now. And they are very good teachers...


Just like my dogs, they teach me lessons on how to treat every day as a gift, and to live in the moment. My problem seems to be dealing with the "what ifs?" in my life. I'm more apt to worry in bed and prevent bad things from happening then go out and try something or do what I used to love. I did try and take my girls to the mountains yesterday and I felt like it was a let down. The girls had a blast, but I didn't really have fun at all =0( I ended up hurting my sciatic nerve by driving all the way, and then could hardly do anything I wanted to-my gas tank was almost on empty and I forgot my purse (with any type of payment I have) at home so couldn't chance any extra excursions because I would be dead on the road somewhere =0(


So that's just it. I'm socially anxious, my short term memory is trash, and I sleep A LOT. Don't get me wrong, everything that I AM doing to help myself is working a little but its a slow process. Like I said, its so easy for me to curl up with the cats and just sleep the day away. I know I'm supposed to be doing something else with my life, but it seems like I can never get it right. Hopefully I'll keep learning from both the cats and the dogs and find out where I should be...

But for now, time to clean the litter box!!