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Pet Behaviors - Hint: They Are Reflections Of Us

I had considered making this into a nuanced attack on people. Some probably expected that. I could have gone the route of using animal's anxiety, depression, or insane behaviors as nothing more but complex mimicry. I could have talked about how much of what we perceive as unconditional love is merely well-trained food desire. Please realize, we're the ones who are trained, not our animal friends. I'm not going to do that, but instead, I'm going to dissect my own life and how it has created a feline lifestyle unique to my own way of living. Is my cat, Swag, a happy cat? I think he is, because, like me, he expects little from the world and is satisfied with the most simple pleasures. Despite loving the outdoors, nature, and the unexpected, he finds solace in the darkest corners and contentment and comfort in our quiet mornings and lazy evenings.

Swag likes to get up early and once he is up, he's up. He wants food, to poop, to groom himself, and then, if time allows, he likes the serenity of the quiet morning, to lay about, contemplate more vigorous activities and then shut his eyes. While he sleeps more during the day than I, we both reserve our energy for more important hours. He is wary of strangers and while affectionate, takes a long time to become trusting. He also does not tolerate others who upset his calm. He knows he can take care of things, but often chooses to remove himself from circumstances he finds stressful. Both of us, I believe, took a while to learn this life lesson, but execute it often. He gets along with women, much more easily than men, but he, like I, sense when the relationship is one-sided. We both sense users, complainers, and those who can drain us. Unfortunately for him, he is often subjected to this type of behavior, because I don't sense it as quickly. He understands my moods. He gives me space when I am angry, cuddles when I am sad, and simply shares the space we find most peaceful most of the time. He lets me know what he wants, much more clearly than most adults, and I often find myself apologizing for not being able to grant him access to rooms and the outside, due to a schedule he anticipates, but doesn't completely understand. There are nights I choose to go out, to be social, and he understands my return is inevitable and he will simply have to be alone. I assume he sleeps, but often, I can tell he's examined things he may not be allowed to when I'm present. I often return to him waiting for me. Other times, he's content knowing I'm going to return to our spot. Every night, he comes up to my pillow, which I turn for him to knead, then lies against, petting him gently until he is content that I am not going to move. I have noticed, as of late, the more I am stressed, the closer ays next to me.

The morning and evening food rituals, often include some whining. I am aware, while efficient, there are times he's waited an extra ten or fifteen minutes, on rare occasions hours, and he wants nourishment. I is spoiled with his treats, some standard, some odd, but he always makes sure I know it's appreciated. Leg rubs, a high tail, and often a stretch to show me his asshole are all ways he lets me know I'm loved. Even when I help him groom, he knows, through his immediate disgust, it's done out of caring. He will avoid me, then rejoin me, giving little signs of thanks, often a bite, just to let me know it wasn't enjoyed, despite knowing it was appreciated.

Recently, he has picked up on a dog's behavior. He has noticed how differently a dog acts when I am here alone with it and when my roommate is there. In an odd twist of what has been the norm, he has shared his space with the dog. Even allowing the dog to face him as he sleeps. He is hesitant when she is here and he avoids contact with the dog, who is often very animated and filled with obvious stress. This deliberate hysteria is a direct reflection of his human's behavior and was going to be the original angle of this story. Oddly, and this is where I adore the complexity of animal behavior, Swag picks up on real and projected behavior. All the "zen stuff", burned incense, and yoga can't change what animals can see, smell, and sense. They understand all the internal things going on which us humans are ignorant of. In this way, Swag, and both her dog and my neighbor's dog, greet me with excitement, while they are hesitant, often rattled by their human's presence and that of others. Just as I am writing this, the neighbor's dog could be heard leaving his apartment for his morning outing in the snowy yard. Whooza, my roommate's dog, came barreling out of his room, barking. Something he'd keep up for minutes, trying to keep up with the shrieks and demands for quiet. I simply called his name, made a shushing sound, and gave him light pets, as his tail wagged, until he slowly descended onto the ground by my feet. Swag, just looked, wondering if he'd be sharing his bed or allowed to fully relax. It was over in less than ten seconds. Both animals feeding off my calm. This is the norm with me, but sadly, for the animals, not always the norm for them.

The one thing these animals may never know, sense, or appreciate is that it's because of them I have this calm. I wasn't always this way, but not only do I do it because of them, but I have changed my life and the way I react to things, in many ways, for them. Especially Swag, because his happiness brings me happiness, and my happiness, bring it upon him. Now, if I could only find some humans who I could share this blissful reciprocity with.

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