• M137@lemmy.world
    10·
    23 hours ago

    Story time:
    A bit less than a decade ago I had a friend who had a cat, a tiny void who was pretty skittish and not fond of strangers. I grew up with cats and have always had a “green thumb” like for gardening but for cats. When I started hanging at his and his GFs place at least once a week me and the cat became comfortable with each other, but I also saw that they had no idea how to actually care for a cat.
    They bought the cheapest food, even though they definitely weren’t strapped for cash, almost never played with her, didn’t know how to read cat body language etc.
    I tried teaching them, giving them (well her, the cat) toys but they just ended up collecting dust in a drawer, I told them what cat foods I knew were good and to test different kinds to see which she both likes and were good for her health but they never changed.
    When I moved apartment to one a lot closer to where they were living they asked me to pet sit whenever they went abroad and I happily obliged. The first day the first time wasn’t easy for her, she had never been outside their apartment since they got her, but the very next day I was woken up by her climbing ontop of my chest and dragging her cheeks all over my face and licking me almost like I was catnip, we were best friends after that and I loved having her with me and seeing this new comfortable and happy side of her. I played with her daily, had nice (as in good for her, not just more expensive) food, treats every now and then etc.
    Then after 10 days they came back and as soon as I opened the door and she noticed it was them she darted under my bed and pressed herself up against the back wall… We had to lift the bed up and drag her out and into the cat carrier.
    It fucking broke my heart, it’s not like I could say “hey, I don’t think you guys are good pet parents, so I’ll take her and give her a better life”. And that first time I wasn’t completely sure if it was specifically them she reacted like that to but after pet sitting her a couple of more times that was definitely the case, if other people came over she was shy but not even close to what she did whenever they came to get her.
    I tried talking to them about caring for cats, or just being a fucking human being and understanding animals are “people”, living beings with feelings, but I think they didn’t have it in them to understand that.
    We stopped being friends over other differences, and then I learned she had gotten sick and passed away. I mourned her more than I think they ever did, I’m of course not gonna say it wasn’t a hard thing for them at all but as far as I’m aware they never grieved and just got another cat right after.
    I still miss her and think about her every now and then, she deserved better.

  • WanderWisley@lemmy.world
    22·
    1 day ago

    Plot twist: Anon’s parents were killed in a horrific helicopter accident 8 years ago and Rusty is just an old empty Amazon box.

    • AFK BRB Chocolate (CA version)@lemmy.ca
      9·
      23 hours ago

      My cat is 15 years old, and has never really been alone for more than a few hours. My wife was normally home, and we had enough animals that when we went on vacation we had someone stay at our house. But my wife and split up early last year, and I ended up with the cat (and a bird), so it’s been just her and me for the better part of a year.

      In November I had to go away for a week, so I had my brother come by once a day to feed her. When I got home she went nuts. Running along at my feet howling when I walked, instantly in my lap, rubbing her face against my chest when I sat down. The sad part was that, for a few days after I got home, she’d wake up in the middle of the night and start making this mournful howl. As soon as I’d say something or put my hand on her, she’d go right back to sleep. I think I gave the poor thing abandonment issues.

    • DV8@lemmy.world
      33·
      1 day ago

      I get the joke, but last time my girlfriend went away for a couple of days, the cats were basically all over her when she sat down. Even the ones that don’t particularly tolerate the others being too close were fine with it at that point.

      • stray@pawb.socialEnglish
        19·
        1 day ago

        I think maybe most people don’t understand cats’ body language. Like they dont jump on you and wag their tail, so they must not love you.

        • bitjunkie@lemmy.world
          6·
          1 day ago

          This is why I’ve never considered “dog person” to be a compliment. Engage with nuance. Vote cat.

        • TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world
          2·
          1 day ago

          my cat jumps on me and wags his tail.

          but it’s mostly because he’s pissed i’m not paying attention to him and he tries to take a chunk out of my arm with his mouth.

      • allriledup [they/them]@piefed.blahaj.zoneEnglish
        12·
        1 day ago

        of course. It was mostly just a joke. My cat definitely loves me. My cat greets me at the door when i come home and she likes to lay on the same furniture as me and just generally being close to me.

        • BeeegScaaawyCripple@lemmy.world
          7·
          1 day ago

          it was so sweet. my mother went on a trip. the cat that she swears hates her waited by the door an entire day except for food and poop breaks, looking for her to come back. when she came back? he wanted loves from me. cats.