For most of my life, at least the three quarters of it before I came to Japan, I've lived with cats.
For the last ten years I've been petless and there have been many times when I've wished that wasn't so.
A few days ago, a stray cat appeared in our garden. It's more of a kitten really; about 6 months old, I'd say. It's not the cutest pussy in the world, I have to say, but what it lacks in beauty, it more than makes up for with affection. It just adores attention and purrs madly while rubbing its little nose over yours...
Of course, it was very hungry too when we first became aware of it from its pitiful mewling outside the window one morning. I took it out some milk, which was soon wolfed down, so I gave it a little bread soaked in milk. Hannah came out to see what was going on and immediately appointed herself i/c neko-chan...
Maya was a little nervous at first but soon got used to the little thing rubbing up against her legs and now screams with delight every time moggy comes near. She hasn't quite mastered the art of holding cats yet though, and I wince when I see her grabbing hold of any available bit of fur, but I'm sure she'll soon pick it up....
So, that means three of the four of us are smitten, leaving one steadfast objector. It seems that it's not so much that mrs bln isn't a cat lover, it's more that she doesn't give a toss about it and as usual sees only problems:
1) It's dirty
2) It's noisy
3) It'll get cat hairs all over the kids or, even worse, if it's allowed into the house, it'll make everything dirty and hairy.
4) The kids will get sick because of the cat hairs everywhere or, even worse, if the cat scratches them.
5) It'll cost a lot of money to look after
6) We'll never be able to go away because then there will be nobody to feed it.
7) If we feed it, then more stray cats will come round and the neighbours will complain.
8) It's not cute
I counter argued as follows:
1) If you'd been living outside your entire, short life, you'd hardly be a paragon of cleanliness either and besides, cats are by nature pretty fastidious in their ablutions and it's nothing that a bit of warm water and soap won't fix..
2) If you were freezing cold and starved of food and affection, you'd have plenty to say on the subject yourself...
3) Ever heard of a cat brush?
4) Why don't other kids with cats get sick all the time then?
5) Are you saying we can't afford a few bucks a week in cat food? How much did you just spend on clothes?
6) OK, this could be a potential problem, but nothing that a little effort and planning won't solve.
7) Bugger what the neighbours think.
8) Neither are you when you make that face
OK, admittedly, my argument with regard to #s 7 & 8 wasn't the best thought out line of reasoning, but I'm tired of always having the spectre of disapproving neighbours hauled out as a reason for not doing the things she doesn't want to. And if we 'adopt' it properly, and welcome it into the house as I want, then there would be no reason for other strays to come round...
Anyway, despite the heated and angry objections of mrs bln, the girls and I went out and bought some cat food and I made a little bed out of an old cardboard box and an old sweater of mine. Neko-chan is very happy, has food in its belly and a warmer place to sleep at night but I still feel that we're only half way there. To me a pet isn't something that lives outside because you don't want it in the house; a pet is part of the family. OK, this would probably depend on the type of pet in question but I'm thinking of cats and dogs... Hannah, Maya and I want a pet; we want neko-chan! Phase Two of the operation will probably take a little more time but I'm sure the combined efforts of the kids' pester power and my own strength of purpose will eventually see her installed as a loved (by three of us at least) member of the family...
Compassion, it seems, is either something you have or you don't....
And while we're on the topic of animals, see if you can find the dog in this picture. It may not be immediately apparent, but keep looking!
Comments (28)
You were right about that dog. Reeeeally hard to see. Dang near missed it.
the kitten's cuteness is vastly improved by the kid squishing it............. awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww..........
absolutely beautiful. i miss my Bates. he was so young when i rescued him that he barely filled my hand. what a little monster tho! good luck, hopefully your love and compassion will be infectious.
I can't even begin to tell you how much it disgusts me the way animals (even pets) are treated in Japan. Actually, you seem to feel the same way. I hope your fight for good goes well. I miss my dog...
That's a butt ugly dog. But damn if you aren't wrong about the cat. It's cuuuuuuute!
I'd definitely keep it. But then again, I'm a total sucker for small animals.
Don't know bout the puddy-cat, but that leedle gurl is just the cutest!
Have you ever smelled a place in which a cat has had an accident? The smell never goes away. I had an apartment once in which a cat had lived... and i swear I tried everything to rid the place of the smell... all to no avail.
I vote for a nice leedle doggie!
She'd only agree to a doggy if it was chained up outside all the time apart from when taken for a walk...
And where's this new profile pic of which you spake?
That kitten is so adorable!!! You're so lucky to 1) have a kitten, 2) live in Japan, and 3) TO HAVE A KITTEN! *siiigh*
. Of course, the side the cute little kitten is on is always the better of the two!
I don't think it lacks in beauty at all! But then again, I can't compare it to anything I've ever had, since apartments rarely allow people to own anything with four legs, if any at all.
Well, Mrs. Bln does have a few good points, but there are two sides to every story
Even though I'm a true-blue "dog person" I have to side with you on Neko-chan. Besides, it is now common knowledge that children who live with pets at a young, antibody-developing age have fewer allergies when they get older.
Your 7th and 8th reasons made me laugh out loud.
The general treatment of "pets" in this country usually makes me cry.
I do see recent improvements, though. I hope Mrs. BLN joins the ranks of Modern Japanese Animal Lovers (I think I saw that on a t-shirt), soon.
Oh, and dog? What dog?
good luck with project kitty... I'm not really a cat person, mostly because I'm allergic, but I have a hard time turning away animals that might need some TLC. There was a kitty hanging around my door awhile back, and I probably would considered making friends if it was possible...
The kitty is adorable and the cutie holding her is even more so! I hope you win this one. About 80% of my body is composed of nothing but soft-spot for animals, especially kitties and pups. I don't understand people who don't feel compassion for the small creatures who need our help to survive. Good luck with this!
Awwwwwwww!!! That is such a cute li'l kitty!!! We're losing our cat soon ~ the girl who moved out (whose room I moved into) was offered a job producing a TV show in Rome, and now that she and her boyfriend are settled in a nice place near the Vatican she is sending for her cat, so we're gonna lose her
Luckily, one of my other housemates is so attached that she wants to go to the rescue centre and find a replacement 
You could always use the, "having pets teaches children responsibility and compassion!" routine ~ worked for us
I have to agree, that kitten is really ugly, but ugly in a cute way, if that's possible. It's happy, so that makes it cute. My fiance once took in a stray a few years ago. She was really ass ugly too, but she was cute at the same time.
Perhaps you should take it to a vet to make sure it's not carrying any disease & to make sure it's ok, no worms etc.
Heh...I guess I didn't wait long enough before. Is it my imagination, or is that dog wearing a t-shirt? And wasn't he in a beer commercial in the eighties?
I meant to add the topic that bouncinghappy touched on above...there are a couple of bacterial infections (Demeter caught a nasty one from a scratch bestowed upon her by a stray that Pops fed a couple of times) which can be transmitted between felines and humans. So, best to make sure your "Snatch" is in tip-top shape so the missus won't have any fuel for argument #4.
As for whether our friend Oswald got too close...would you believe me if I said I only have thighs for you? (I didn't say I did...I was just wondering if you would believe me!)
Seriously, you just keep telling me I "smell pretty yummy" and I'll be putty (or sumthin') in your hands in no time....
...if it's not flirting too much to admit that!
Putty's OK, but I had something of a more deliquescent nature in mind....
Cute cute cute cute cute cute!
But I think I'd have an easier time calling it Neko-chan than Snatch. (giggle)
pussy jokes just sound wrong with little kids around.
If I'd known you were coming rache...
I miss Kitty... Now I am thinking if I have a cat in my new place. Hope you can have that neko-chan inside.
BTW, My friend is working for stray cats with a small group. They are appealing to Yokohama not to use the budget to kill them but use it to get them castrated hoping poor stray cats decrease in the future. They have a website here...
I hope you get to keep her. She is cute!
where do i sign this xanga-petition to get you and yours a kitty, this kitty???
X Sonia Coleman, fellow cat-lover, not sick nor dirty nor broke due to kitty lovins.
-fellow Neko-chan FAN.
awwww... the kitten is so cuuuuute!!! I always wanted a cat. My mom never let me. Grrr.
i don't think there's such a thing as a "not cute" kitten.
you and the kids will win over mrs. bln, i'm sure.
it's a cute kitten, in a sort of bigheaded feline way. I own six cats, and they are all wonderful, when they aren't being evil. I really hope the kitten becomes a permanent pet for you.
Oh man! I really have a soft spot for cats!!! Ain't it really cute?! Sigh.. Hope the Empress would lemme keep one - and I'll be contented.
Aw, you should get a cat!!! It's a 3 to 1 battle right? And I'm sure you wife would learn to live the cat!
your little girl is the cutest thing ever! anata no neko ga suki desu.
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