If You're Not A Cat Person, Do NOT Read This.

My cat, Smokey, came in from a few hours outside in the sun, laid down next to me on the floor while I was sitting in my desk chair in the office bedroom. He 'pet' my feet with this tail softly and looked up at me lovingly with a breathy purr. Smokey is 10 years old this month (or next, I can't remember that far back) and he's still the love of my life.


This beautiful, gentle and loyal creature is less a cat in my eyes than he is a son of my own flesh and blood. He and I seem to understand each other, much like the bond many people have with their dogs. To some, their pets are their kids, their family, their siblings. It's not weird. If you have any respect at all for them, you'd raise them like you would your own child... manners, punishments, spoils and all.

- "What is 'overboard' ?"

Everyone has their opinions of what could be considered going overboard on the care (or exploitation) of your fur kid. I, personally, would never consider clothing my cat simply because it's adorable or stylish. He already has a coat. I don't teach him party tricks for the entertainment of others. Not that he would, because, c'mon...he's a cat. They don't partake in such 'foolish' triflings. (his words, not mine)

The most we spoil him is with an enclosed pet stroller so he can join us at the park and outdoor festivities. I tried training him on a leash when he was a kitten, but he never took to the idea. Dogs are good with the collar/leash thing, which makes me wonder why those pet strollers are really designed for dogs? Shouldn't they be WALKING by your side if they physically can? I also got him a $27 white leather blinged-out collar that makes him look like Elton John in a cat suit.

Because he was practically raised on the road, he gets full roam of the car when I go on trips. It's convenient because he's pretty much self-contained during travel. I rarely take food and bathroom breaks and Smokey just uses the portable kitty litter box when he has to go. He also bathes himself and always smells good. The really nice thing about him is that he doesn't have fleas, puts me to sleep when he purrs by my head, is great to cuddle with, hasn't had any health issues, never once has scratched anything up or 'sprayed' on anything AND he doesn't bark. Barking is bad for my P.T.S.D., so he really fits my personality and my lifestyle. Independent, chill, loving and low maintenance. Anyone that meets him instantly loves him. My upstairs neighbor, Astrid from Venezuela... she always calls him "DELICIOUS!!" because he's so squishy and soft. At least I *hope* that's what she means by it.

I say all of this in a blog because I love him more than anything and it's his birth month (I think), so this is in honor of the greatest guy in my life, next to my Dad. Thanks for being so awesome, Smokey...Mokey...Moke Moke...Bitty Bo....Buddy...Beautiful Boy.