Here, kitty

A recent study discovered that, contrary to expectation, some cats like to play fetch. Well, duh.

          True, a lot of cats don’t like to play fetch. You toss something across the room, and they just look at you. You want it back? Go get it yourself.

          We once lived with a cat named Gretchen. She was part Siamese, one of the breeds the study says is most likely to enjoy playing fetch. Gretchen loved to play fetch – when she was in the mood. But only then.

          Same with dogs, by the way. If they’re not in the mood, they just look at you. If they want to play, they’re all in. Of course, they always want to play when you just want them to go away.

          Before she came to live with us, Gretchen lived in a house with other cats and a dog or two. She probably saw the dogs playing fetch and decided it could be fun. Another dog trait: She begged at the table for food. (House rule: “Never make eye contact with the cat at dinnertime.”)

          Of course, cats are well known for bringing you gifts, such as dead mice or baby rabbits. They bang at the door, you let them in, and they deposit their gift at your feet. You try to look appreciative as you look for a way to dispose of the gift, but it’s hard to feel appreciative about receiving a dead bunny (or one that’s still twitching).

          By the way, I don’t think you can teach a cat to play fetch. I don’t think you can teach a cat most anything. But cats are very observant, and if you model the behavior you want, and they decide it looks like fun, they’ll try it. Not right then. No, no. Only when you’re not looking.

          Why did it take a formal study to discover that some cats play fetch?

          Probably because an awful lot of people are ignorant about cat behavior, even science nerds who supposedly know a lot.

          Many people seem to think that cats are aloof, unloving and unappreciative of the people who care for them. These people have obviously never lived with a cat.

          Having lived with many cats over the years, I can testify that they can be delightful companions. They are affectionate, even caring. You can read to them, and they’ll listen. You can even preach to them (says the retired preacher), and they’ll listen. Who knows what they’re getting out of it? Who knows what anybody in the pews is getting out of what you’re preaching?

          True, cats can be dismissive and even haughty at times. (Hint: So can dogs.) Go away for a few days, and kitty may punish you by ignoring you for a time, or by leaving you a little “gift” outside the litter box. Our cats always knew when we were getting ready to leave for awhile, and they sulked until we left, or occupied they the suitcase until we booted them out.

They liked having us around. Leaving them lots of dry food was not good enough. They wanted us, no substitutes. They were OK living without food for awhile. But they craved relationship with their people.

          Obviously, I could tell you a bajillion cat stories. But I’ll spare you. Point is, cats are people, too. That is, cats have personalities. They’re not just a bundle of instincts wrapped in fur. Like dogs and many other animals, they’re intelligent enough to relate to you in a meaningful way.

          You might even say they have a soul. Actually, the Bible does say that. And that’s another story.