Changes

by Twinkles

As long as we live, we must adjust to changes, many smaller ones, some larger ones. It is never easy, whether it works out for the best in the end or not. The hardest is when we change homes and humans, which I have done three times already in my life, I do hope I never have to do that again. It is much too hard getting one's home organized and your humans trained properly in the first place.

Changing from an indoor-outdoor cat to an indoor only kitty is another tough challenge, and I have still not adjusted to that. I REALLY want to go out, and my humans seem just as determined that I stay inside. I am working on that one, but sadly enough, the humans are winning. At least so far.

Smaller changes too are unsettling, changes in food or litter, I resist as best I can. A day of washing the floor convinced my human that I really did not like, nor intend to use, clumping litter, and she went out and got my regular brand for me again.

I have also had to endure several hours of hunger when the human decided I would benefit from a change in diet. She tried to starve me into eating some sort of expensive cardboard chunks, or something that tasted much like it anyway. A few hours of hunger striking and vocal protests on my part brought that little scheme to an early end.

The latest thing around here is her new found determination to de-clutter the house. For those who may not be familiar with this term, it means throwing out all the good stuff - the soft old cushions that wound up on the floor, properly decorated with kitty hair - the cracked up dish that I preferred to eat my kitty snacks from - the little box that I liked to curl up in for my rainy day naps - all that sort of thing.

I am dealing with this as best I can, I have allowed the replacement of cushions and dish with inferior substitutes, resigned myself to the loss of that wonderful box, but that is as far as I am willing to adapt to her schemes. Anymore changes and I will report her to Queen Midnight for her inconsiderate attitude.

For inexperienced kitties who are just now starting to face the problems change can bring to their lives I suggest these guidelines:

First, is this change going to improve my life? If so, of course go along with it. If not, then protest, weep and wail, refuse to eat, pretend you no longer know what a litter box is for, and generally act like your traumatized.

Next, can you find a way of overcoming the problem if you must? For example I no longer have my little box, but I have found that crawling under the bedroom pillows is nearly as good.

And last, if all else fails, simply give up for now, accept matters as they are, but keep an eye out for a time when you can even things up again. Knock over something breakable, scratch the dog, throw up a hairball in someone's slipper, or help yourself to anything left unguarded on the table. Use your own imagination to come up with something that expresses your own unique personality.

Above all, and through all of the changes life brings you, never lose your perspective and sense of humour.