Cats in the Window

This post was originally released in the late fall a couple of years ago, but when we were recently able to open the windows for a few days between heat waves, our cats reminded me of it. The summer has been so hot and humid that we’ve been mostly hunkered down in the a/c, so the break was a welcome chance to get fresh air in the house and get out on our deck and in our hammock. The cats particularly enjoyed the enhanced “kitty TV” as they soaked up the sights, sounds, and smells while perched by now-open windows.

       Watching our cats bask in the sun and fresh air coming in the open windows due to spring-like weather got me thinking about how housecats have the right approach to life.  Our 2 cats Bailey and Misty were only too happy to jump up on their little fuzzy mats on the dining room window ledge the second I opened the windows. Breakfast was finished, baths completed, and they were ready for their long morning naps. Having the windows open in November and feeling the warm breeze – not to mention all the smells drifting in – was a huge bonus for them.

       While they get along well, they rarely curl up together. That ended when Misty passed the little kitten stage and was no longer following Bailey around. Bailey put up with the little fuzz ball always nearby but preferred her own space. On this particular day, each on her own matt, they roasted in the warm sun while watching “kitty TV” outside and absorbing all the smells and sounds. The rare movement was to adjust positions to maximize sun exposure, much like people do on the beach.

      Over the course of days like these there are snack breaks, some stretching, and maybe even a few moments of “crazy time” where one or both will run around for no apparent reason. And they do get into the occasional scuffle just like any siblings. Theirs are usually over toys or a prime napping spot and rarely amount to more than a few bops on the head and a short chase. Then they are back to napping or just doing other cat stuff.

      Once the cool weather starts, we put a red fleece blanket on our ottoman for Bailey. She is on that as soon as she sees it and stays there most of the fall and winter. Since being a kitten, Misty will lie next to that blanket but never on it. This year we put a blue blanket up there for Misty (which Bailey does not go on) and a few days later I noticed both of them curled up on their respective blankets. As the election was approaching I thought about how they get along even though one prefers red and the other blue. There’s a lesson there for us humans about not letting things like political preference divide us. We are all in this together so getting along is the only way to make things better for all of us.  

      Seeing how our cats meander through their days with their little rituals, habits, and a pretty relaxed attitude toward life, I’ve come to appreciate their lifestyle – especially since in retirement I can now mirror much of it. Housecats have the right idea; lighten up, bath every day, soak up the fresh air and sunshine, play a little, get some exercise, and take a nap. We humans can learn a lot from them.

www.RetiredandInspiredat55.com  08-19-2024