Oh, to be a cat ....  cats have it so easy .... nothing to do but purr, sleep, meow, play, eat, and repeat.  Meanwhile, I, Roscoe's Human Mommy, have to worry about things like completing my latest homework assignment, what to wear today, what to do with my girlfriends later while Daddy and my brothers are having their football lovefest right in front of the television set, and so on.

My kittycat has taught me much, among the lessons being as follows:

1.)  A cat's life doesn't have any set rules or schedules.  They just do what they do whenever they want, and however they want, and if they feel like it.

2.)  A cat doesn't answer to nobody but himself (or herself).  They are the ones in charge, NOT the humans: the humans are only there to serve each and every whim.

3.)  A cat doesn't like change of routine.  Chances are, if there is, they will be a lot of hissing, growling, or spitting going on, especially if a certain word ("V-E.T) happens to be involved.

4.)  A cat will eat what it feels like eating.  You can't force a cat into eating something it is only going to turn its nose up at; you have to be creative in order to make Kitty's mealtime exciting and varied.

5.)  Nobody can play like a cat.  Cats are champions when it comes to cutting loose and releasing pent-up energy or negative or positive feelings.

6.)  Cats are excellent communicators.  They use their eyes, tails, ears, faces, postures, etc. to convey their moods; once you learn to figure them out, it is very easy to read Kitty's body language and to act accordingly to their mood.  In other words, if your Kitty is furred out with a bottle brushed tail, dilated pupils, flattened ears, and bristling whiskers, you know to back off and stay out of her (or his) way.

7.)  If your kitty doesn't like to be petted or tickled in a certain spot, take his or her feelings into consideration and learn what parts your kitty likes to be petted (and avoid the areas that make him hiss, thrash his tail, or make him or her want to claw or bite you).

8.)  Don't dress kitty up in a cute costume if he or she doesn't want to; more often than not, they wil surely voice their displeasure, try to escape, or claw or bite (my little baby sister is very bad about this).

9.)  When a kitty purrs, it doesn't always mean that it's happy.  It could be in pain or scared; it purrs to calm itself in an extremely stressful situation.

10.)  Cats and dogs aren't always "sworn enemies".  They can oftentimes end up being the best of friends (my cat is not a dog person, by the way).

11.)  Do not put cats near small infants or children; small babies or children often don't understand that Kitty doesn't like his or her tail pulled or smacked.  Children or babies need to be taught that kitties need to be handled with care and as gently as possible.

12.)  Cats don't like to be lugged everywhere.  If they want to be carried, they will let you know when is the most appropriate time.

13.)  Cats can be poisoned or harmed if they eat the wrong things (food, plants, etc.).  Be extra vigilent on what you feed a cat or what plants you have hanging around the house.  You also have to make sure that they don't crawl into a warm car or get into the antifreeze, or tragedy can easily be the end result ... and you would be minus a beloved feline friend.

14.)  Cats have different meows or other communicative sounds.  Learn to tell the difference between them and learn to read their bodily cues or signs.  It is not nearly as difficult as it may sound.  I have come to learn how to read my own cat like a book.

And finally, 15.)  If you are going to have a cat, you are making a lifetime commitment.  Be there for your kitty and take care of it; you wlll be helping out a friend in the making and chances are, you and your kitty will have a very close and loving relationship.

I am blessed to have Roscoe in my life; I don't know what I would do without him.  He is the best thing that could have possibly happened to me!