"damn cat"

I live with two cats. They aren't mine, legally, but we occupy the same household and I help take care of them. We watch shows and lounge in sun spots together, slow blinking at each other. I pretend to look the other way if I drop a particularly tasty crumb of Human Food. Our collective stray hairs makes the discount Roomba seize up.

The "House Panther" (a fancy way of saying black cat) is a greedy old man. He loves to eat: he'll inhale his meal and immediately edge toward someone else's bowl or plate. He also enjoys pets and especially belly rubs! His companion-- a calico/tabby mix-- we ended up nicknaming "Mean Lil Ass," due to her grumpy-looking face and her fondness for playing rough. She is about 7 years his junior so she still has that kitten energy, to HP's annoyance.

I remind myself that they are Not a People no matter how many times they can stand on their hind legs. That's  just how kitties do. Whenever they irritate me I try to take a deep breath and think: what do they need? What do they want? You know, instead of just chucking a pillow at them or using the CatSoaker9000. I can do something more constructive-- and not punish the cat, I learned too late in life!-- like checking their water bowl (and to see if it is meal time), or add another cat tree to the grocery list, and spending quality time with them.

Cats may be independent, but they get lonely, too. They are Banished from my room during bedtime due to their antics, so I try to make time for them by hanging out, or pulling out some Cat Enrichment with catnip. And pet them, of course.

Besides, I can always use more patience.

As much as I can complain (and I do!), I do love my rowdy cohabiters. You can tell due to the myriad of nicknames I have for them both.