Monday, March 16, 2015

Yes, I love cats

Waddles and I in 2004. 

I searched the magazine racks, back and forth, up and down. The only issue I could find was the next month’s issue, already on the stands, not the current month’s issue. Cat Fancy.
I took it up to the check-out at the bookstore.
“Oh, it’s their last publication as Cat Fancy,” the salesperson said.
“Yes, but I was actually hoping to find another issue,” I said. “There was an article in it that I wanted to read.”
“What was the article about?” she asked.
I was a bit embarrassed to answer.
“I’m one of those people who follow cats on Facebook,” I said. “It’s an article about one of those.”
“Which one?”
I thought she meant which issue. “February,” I said.
“No, I mean which cat?” she asked.
I thought, She knows about cats on Facebook?
“Frosty the Frozen Kitten,” I said.
Then the salesperson named a list of cats that she followed on Facebook. It turned out that she, too, was one of those people who followed cats on Facebook.

I admit it. I follow numerous cats: Frosty, Champy Pants the Blind Siamese Kitty, Buhbee the Cat, Tenderness for Tyrone, FlowerPower.
It’s cute, it’s fun, and it’s relaxing. I’ve learned a lot about rescue efforts that are going on around the country and the world. I’ve learned about special-needs animals and the people who love them and take care of them. I’ve connected with other animal people.

But with connection can come feelings of loss. When one of the animals (mostly cats) that I follow get sick, or have a sibling that gets sick, or crosses the Rainbow Bridge, I feel very sad.
“Why do you look at those pages if they make you cry?” Larry has asked.
And I ask myself that sometimes: why do I do this to myself?
Because I enjoy reading about the antics of kitties. Because I can relate to what other pet people are going through with trying to give cats medicine, finding foods that they like, and dealing with sibling rivalry. Because I am part of an exchange of helpful information. Because it’s a group of people who value animals in the same way I do.

I know that Facebook is not the same as real life. If Chase Bird wants to play or sit in my lap, and I’m looking at Facebook, down goes my phone. I’m careful to limit my time online and keep my focus on the life around me. I’m aware that social media can be an escape from the worries and stresses of daily life. And it’s certainly been a stressful couple of months.

But online friends are still friends, even if I’ve never met them in person. I care about the animals and the pet parents I’ve connected with and want to be encouraging when I can. I’ve learned more about animal welfare and what I can do “in real life” to help animals.

So I say without embarrassment: I’m one of those people who follow cats on Facebook.

Have you ever been interested in learning more about a “famous” animal?



12 comments:

  1. Hee hee. I follow two bird pages that are like what you're talking about--these two are done as if the bird were talking. I also follow a couple of the "normal" kind of pages--ones where people post photos of birds or information about pet birds and that sort of thing.

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  2. i don't facebook but i do get to love my buddies' pets in blogland. :)

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  3. I don't follow cats on FB, but I follow a number of pet blogs!

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  4. I don't seek out cat pages or posts, but I enjoy them when they come across my news feed because someone shared it. Since my husband is allergic to animal dander, we can't keep pets in the house, but this is a way for me to get my "fix."

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  5. Oh I totally get this! I follow Boo (and even own a stuffed animal replica of him!). I also follow a few cat sites and and I'm a member of a few Maltese dog sites.

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  6. I love cats too....My hubby gets irritated with me because I will ask him to hand me something because Simon is in my lap and I don't want to disturb him....I love Simon beyond belief so don't feel bad....Isn't it wonderful to love so unconditionally....

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  7. I enjoyed reading about Polar Bear, author Cleveland Amory's cat about whom he wrote in his book, "The Cat Who Came For Christmas."

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  8. you are clearly an animal/cat lover and really do your part on facebook. i never met an animal lover that i did not like/love!!!!

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  9. I got completely hooked on a webstream about a year and a half ago called "The Seven Kittens." The mom-cat was a stray taken in by a family and she had seven kits, which were recorded non-stop on webstream until they went to their furever homes. I was hooked. Then I followed a couple of the kittens on FB -- not anymore, but they were good days! I love your photo in this post!

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  10. I don't follow on fb, but I follow many blogs that feature pets..and it seems cats, dogs and horses are my favorites.

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  11. I love cats, too. I watch the funny cat videos that come across my feed...they can be addictive. I have lost two cat friends recently. One in Nov. 2013 and the other in Nov. 2014 at 16 and 14 respectively. I've been visiting cats at shelters and searching online for another cat buddy.

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  12. I had to go to FB and look at Frosty's page. I didn't know there was such a thing! How fun, Tina!

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