I know that it was my human companion, Garry, that was supposed to write this piece, but I asked him to let me do it, to give a perspective from the other side, on this issue of how helpful we are to each other in providing support and friendship.
I am a short-haired Black Russian, a cat, quite glamorous actually, and very chatty. And while he does appreciate that we were once worshipped as gods, that was a long time ago, and there is no use crying over spilt milk (well, there is, but it gets me nowhere!)
We have been together for just over three years now, and I hope it works out in the long-term, now that I have got him trained. He understands my food preferences, and gives me lots of attention and affection. I let him chase me around the house every day, as exercise – but he is the one who flops down exhausted first. He needs to go to gym more often.
He goes out all day three days a week, to work: someone has to be able to buy my tins of food (and his food too, of course). But he is very good to me: the only time I get upset is when he takes me to the vet. All those dogs there yapping and barking, and the vet sticks this thing up my bum – to take my temperature, or something. I just grin and bear it! I’m also not all that happy with his choice of TV programmes, although I hope The Chasers come back soon.
He likes me to sleep over his feet, to keep them warm. It is a bit lumpy, but I am used to it now. He occasionally has a friend over to stay the night (not always the same one), and he locks me out of the bedroom that night (but I peek in, and they are doing that thermometer thing too).
So every animal should have a companion human, someone to come home to, to cuddle up with, and tell your troubles to. Isn’t that what it’s all about?
Abdulah Wotherspoon (née Moggie)
Would you like to see your pet in Talkabout? Send in your photo and how you feel about your pet (up to 200 words) to: editor@positivelife.org.au [4]