The Barbour cats: Random 5 Friday

If you’ve been reading my blog for long, you know how I feel about cats. I love them, especially the ones that make their home with my husband and me.

I grew up mostly with dogs, not cats. The cats of my childhood were mostly farm cats, living outside.

I love dogs, too. I enjoy their energy and their unconditional love. They are loyal companions.

But it was a cat, Waddles, who changed my life for the better. She helped me face my OCD and get past many of my fears of contamination and responsibility.

Cats continue to provide a way for me to get out of my head and to focus on taking care of other creatures. They help to soothe my anxiety and depression and help to give me purpose.

When Larry and I got married, I had Waddles, and he had two cats, Thunder Cat and Sam. We took in Chase Bird in September 2007.

Here are some facts about the Barbour cats. I’m linking up again with Nancy’s A Rural Journal for Random 5 Friday.

Waddles in the sunshine on the screened-in back porch.



Thunder Cat liked to sleep on his back, paws curled.

1. We have lost two cats, Waddles and Thunder Cat. I adopted Waddles in March 2000. She died on Oct. 13, 2011, when she was 21 years old. Larry adopted Thunder Cat around 1994. He died Feb. 12, 2009, when he was 15 years old. There are still empty places in our hearts for these two cats. But we feel their presence and talk about them often. On the night before Waddles died, Thunder Cat visited Larry in a dream and told him everything would be OK. And Waddles appears in my dreams sometimes, healthy and playful.

  



Sam adores Larry.

2. Larry adopted Samantha (Sam) when she was a kitten. She’s now 16 years old. Sam loves her Papa. She follows him around and lounges on the sofa with him in the evenings. Unlike our other cats, Sam loves to play with balls. We have small yellow balls that are her favorites. She leaps in the air and bats them like she’s playing tennis. She also likes ice. If we drop a piece on the kitchen floor, she’s on it, swatting it around the room like she’s playing ice hockey. Sam loves to be brushed. She also likes me to sing little songs to her.



Chase likes to roll around on the rug.

3. Chase Bird came to us. He lived under a bush in our yard before we took him in. The vet estimated he was one or two years old when we adopted him, so he is six or seven years old. Chase Bird is a lap cat. He loves to snuggle. He has long legs and I’m sure he could leap small buildings if needed. He cries sometimes when he wants attention. He tends to “talk” with his mouth full of food, which makes for some interesting noises and facial expressions.



It's not easy to get a photo of a cat. Lots of times, they move mid-flash and all you get is the tail.

4. We keep our cats indoors all the time. Cats who stay indoors tend to live longer than outside cats. It’s just safer for them. We provide a stimulating environment for them with plenty of toys, attention, hiding places, safe places and sleeping places.

Sam sniffs my leg as I try to get her picture.

5. Our cats are also spayed and neutered. There are so many cats who need homes. We don’t want to add to the overpopulation.

Are you a dog person or a cat person—or both? What's your favorite animal?