Darn it, I miss my 6 cats in Florida. There’s a reason I think why I have an affinity for our furry feline creatures. This actually goes back to my days of growing up in Hawaii. I seem to remember no less than 30 cats adopted by my grandparents. These furry guys and gals were strays and only one special cat got the grand prize: standing privilege of staying indoors. But the rest were satisfied to remain outdoors and getting 2 square meals a day was more than enough compared to looking for food elsewhere.
Blackie was special cat for Grandma. He had a personality as most cats do, but he also appeared very content, satisfied with lying curled up in an old cardboard box by the window. There he watched my grandfather sit in his chair, watching TV and working on sharpening knives and blades used in chicken fights.
I carefully observed how funny these guys communicate their needs, wants, and desires. Cats, I believe and declare are a lot more intelligent than any other animal.
Like my grandparents and many of you readers, Ernest Hemingway surely must have liked cats too. If you visit Hemingway House in Key West, Florida you’ll see the latest generations of felines (47 cats)relaxing at Hemingway’s former residence, now converted into a museum. Can you imagine seeing Ernest writing his 1953 short novel “The Old Man and the Sea”---with his trusted six -toed pet Snowball at his side influencing him as if to say “ Now…Ernest…you need to minimize your writing and emphasize action and no literary ornamentation please…this will surely make a great impact on literature…” And he listened. I think he did pretty good job as a writer. And yes, a cat must have communicated that in their own mysterious ways. I told you they were smart.
Cats do live by the “Hemingway Code” too. How can you not notice a cat’s facade of honor, courage, endurance, and dignity?
My wise grandma knew a few things about cats too. She told me the reason why they are a lot cleaner than dogs and they bury their poop was simple. Long, long, time ago, their distant cousin the African Lion told them to get smarter and bury their poop. That explains it all.
Finally, in recognition of one of mankind’s best friends, I paraphrase Malcolm Forbes: “You can easily judge the fine character of a cat by how the cat treats those who can do nothing for them or to them.”
Copyright © 2007 by Myles Saulibio All Rights Reserved
