Several months ago, my fourteen year old tabby passed away. I now have one very large Persian Angora black and white cat - an only cat, which I haven't done in years. Usually I run a multi-cat household.
And in a multi-cat household, each cat has their own "job". My tabby's job was to let me know when the food bowls were empty. She did her job so well that, no matter what I was doing, she'd send off a very loud "Meow!" whenever the bottom of the bowl began to appear.
So when she died, the Persian apparently did not consider it his job to let me know when his bowl was empty. I was so used to the incessant reminders of my tabby that I'll admit I was shocked one day to see my large Persian cat sitting placidly next to an empty cat food bowl.
He was waiting there, staring at the empty bowl. Probably he was in shock too because he'd never seen one before.
I made sure the bowl was filled and vowed (guiltily) to check it, something I hadn't done in - well - years. However, a day or so later, I rolled past the kitchen and there he sat again, sitting by the bowl - waiting. He wasn't going to meow or do the tabby's job.
So now I check the bowl on a regular basis. If you could see my cat, you'd realize that there is no way he's missing out on food.
But all of this just reminded me how each of us (even cats) serve particular roles when we live together. I miss my tabby's incessant, sometimes annoying reminder.
Maybe I'll get another cat some day who will take on that job - who knows? But until then it will be mine.
2 comments:
Just too funny. Every cat we've ever had had a different personality and temperament.
It's true. They really do take on roles - and have their own personalities!
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