~ >> Cat Lessons << ~
(Things I Can Learn From A Cat)
# Always be ready, at the drop of a hat, to tear around acting
like a fool (kitten) - for the sheer demented joy of it.
# Always answer when called.
# Nap often...anywhere you like.
# When contented, or in pain
(or facing uncertainty or animosity)
Purr.
# When startled or confronted by sudden aggression:
fuff & spit, fluff & arch
- to Larger-Than-Life-Size -
or,
scale the nearest heights...
whichever feels right.
# When play-fighting & sparring, always keep claws sheathed.
When others don't, or won't,
box their ears soundly -
and leave.
# Keep yourself supple and flexible:
Always stretch before rising to ensure
that anytime anything, or anyone,
causes you to slip or fall,
you will land on
your feet.
# Always respond to respect & appreciation in kind, from
those with whom you choose to share your home-space.
# If your home-space becomes intolerable, or no longer provides
appropriate sanctuary and companionship: first,
find an alternate home/provider,
then leave - permanently.
# After any activity, or none at all, wash & groom.
# When in doubt, or bemused, wash & groom.
# Be ready, when moved in spirit, to bestow affection on
any person of your choice, when least expected.
# Delight in the exquisite joy of bird-watching;
allowing the memory & romance
to lift & excite your soul
# If you have, by patience and skill, captured
the ultimate prize (of mouse, rat, or snake),
present it proudly to your person of choice,
and bask in the praise - and horror.
# Allow a regular habit of strolling and patrolling your
territory to keep your senses sharp and alert.
# Always have a special hide-away,
free from noise and disturbance,
to dream and meditate.
~ ~ ~*~ ~ ~
Author notes
This was inspired by reading one called "Things I Can Learn from a Dog" (Unknown Author), but unable to find the positive equivalent for cats. As a cat lover since childhood, I had a lot to draw from. Hope my fellow cat servants appreciate it. ~ Ma'atkara
(Special thanks to BlazingSwords, for Bronze in her contest )
Written November 1st, 2003
In a list
What did you think
Comments
1 - 23 of 23
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this is soooo funny and a pure delight to read it made me laugh lol...congrats on your bronze in this piece 
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Servent would be the right word.I've had a number of both cats and dogs.Cats are far more arrogant,hardly ever regret a transgresion.And in general couldn't care less for others needs.Some are affectionate.When they feel like it.I have to laugh when I see their uppity attitude displayed.I be a puppy lover as you can tell.But cats don't seem to mind coming in second.They really can't be bothered with being the center of attention.Simple requires too darn much work.~~~Suseann
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wow i got caught up in the arguments..this is good we can often learn lessons from the rest of creation
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you're right, i love this... and how true, too!
my favorite is the one about keeping your claws sheathed when sparring, and boxing the ears of anyone who won't 
this is charming and delightful, i love it. 
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Yes, it was! He is a Maine Coon and has the most beautiful eyes and long hair-- so pretty and feminine looking! I suppose I could change the spelling (Artemes? Artemus?) Maine Coons are known for their decidely 'dog-like' behavior-- and they are huge, too. He is the subject of my 'old cat haiku' series.
~smile~
Regards,
Serenem
Edited on Aug 16, 3:02 p.m. because ''. -
Thanks for the great comment on my 'poem', Serenem
Yep, cats are so varied in their personalities there are always some dog-like ones. Your Artemis is a he? Was that a case of mistaken gender as a kitten
.
~ G
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Excellent!
Yes, this could be considered poetry as there is a specific style/form called a 'List poem'. I found this to be extremely entertaining and well done!
The poster who commented that you can't play or wrestle with a cat obviously never met a cat like my Artemis! He loves to wrestle and rarely forgets to keep his claws sheathed. We also have an exciting game (~smile~)where he jumps from back to back of family members to the couch, to the floor, and then starts all over again. You can see the laughter in Artie's eyes when he does this! (Again, again!, he seems to say!)
~smile~
Very nice *poem* Maatkara, I enjoyed it!
regards,
Serenem
Edited on Aug 16, 2:03 p.m. because 'typo'. -
my cat is alot differnt but i still see signs of cats in there.
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I think we have wasted enough space on this comments thing, but fear ye not, a pedantic IM concerning your use of the term 'sic' is on its way to you
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Cinnamon ~ I really didn't say I disagreed with you, in principle. And there was no need to be presumptive, or project. I should perhaps explain that pedantry is a habit of mine...no "attack" on you was intended at all . I admire your literary choice, by the way. Perhaps we can compromise on what to call this (a bit like 'art'?)...'philosophical prose poem'? Could you suggest a category on this site to put it in?
I guess we'll see what BlazingSwords decides...the final authority, in this situation..right?
Peace, friend
~ Ma'atkara
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Are we then to assume that any piece of writing which, in your opinion succeeds in 'encapsulating and essentializing the intrinsic, nature/human nature attributes' is a poem? What about a picture that you feel does this?
Or, to take the example of the book I'm reading at the moment, I would say certain passages in Jude The Obscure by Thomas Hardy attempt to do exactly that, yet noone would claim they are poetry. I accept there is such a thing as prose-poetry, but the book is not not an example of this. In the same way, although poetry can be in the form of a list (see lots of Adrian Henri's works) but it must have distinguishing features from any other list. It must, I believe, have been written with poetry in mind rather than the making of a list, and this intent must be discernable.
As for pointing out my typos, that was nothing but a barely concealed attack on me for holding views opposed to your own, in much the same way that me pointing it out is. -
You know what, cinnamon, I kind of agree with you...But it's not a Column, and it does encapsulate and essentialize the intrinsic, nature/human nature attributes and spiritual relativity. So, 'poem' it is I don't think we need go so far as to say my entering it in this is 'perverse' ["peverse"(sic)], though...do we?
It was a prewrite, after all, and I thought it alluded to aspects of life the contest holder was asking for as well...
~ Ma'atkara
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Hah, this is good, and I must agree that cats are excellent. Just thought I would point out that I dont believe this is a poem. It is a list. I believe that nearly anything can be poetry, as long as it is written with poetry in mind. Therefore, entering it into a competition in which the only rule is to write a poem seems a bit peverse. But I forgive you because it is about cats.
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Thanks M I was probably a little too subtle in reference to "stretch often", i.e. 'keep yourself supple and flexible'. And the 'hide-away...to dream & meditate'. I thought everyone would already know about 'cat naps'...thought it would go on too long. I may modify it, I suppose it could be improved.
I don't have cats, or my beloved Basenjis, anymore...just living on memories for now.
~ G
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Great write. You truly captured their spirit. Cats are truly unique.Yes they are not at all like dogs when it comes to love, loyalty and faithfulness but cats are free spirits and much more graceful than dogs. They are very loving when the moods strikes and if you are granted this special thing you are blessed forever. Great write. God Bless,Patty
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Wise
You have observed your cat closely and learned quite a bit! Good writing Gennelle!
I like the way cats handle their emotions, letting them go with a lick and a tail flick. Sometimes in life there are too many things going on and we forget to be a good animal first. These are good lessons - there's a few more. Eat when you are hungry. Sleep when you are tired. Stretch often.
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Thank you, BlackKnight, I appreciate your comments . I love dogs too, having bred Basenjis for many years. But a Basenji is a very cat-like dog, being as Nature made them (i.e. not man-made). The barkless hunting dog, native to Africa, shares its independent nature (and lack of doggy odour!) with Dingos and wolves.
As a purist, I have greater appreciation for animals made by Nature, not man.
~ Ma'atkara
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No offense when I say this, but I find that dogs are much cooler than cats. Dogs will love you no matter what you do, and this is an admirable trait that, quite frankly, is virtually gone from all of human society, and I find this quite sad. True, with cats, you have to earn your love, but still, I find them to be more annoying than dogs. For one thing, you can't really play with them like you can a dog. You can't grab them and wrestle around with them--about all you can do is dangle some string in their face and laugh when they go for it. In any event, yeah, you can learn a lot from pets, both cats and dogs alike. It's interesting really--we view ourselves as superior creatures to any and all other animals on the Earth, but the fact is, in a lot of ways, other animals are superior to us in ways that we can't see and instead must search for.
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I loved tis one! its says it all about the attitude of a cat. you should read my poem about my cat Miwnefer. shes a cat who gets a lot of milage out of her cuteness.
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Thanks i wrote a little hiaku for a contest called Birds Eye View, but now I can't remember what it was called. Thanks for the follow-up.
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Craftily creative
I liked the creativity in this. Not being a cat-person myself (I prefer to admire the creatures from a safe distance) this almost makes me want to run out and find a cute kitten to call my own! -
Hi nogenreneeded ~ Hee hee, everything in their house is theirs, of course, didn't you know that.
Glad you liked it! Here's a classic Japanese Haiku on a cat:
'In from the dark
And out into the dark -
That's a cat in love!' ~ Issa
Prrroow prrrrt..
~Maatkara
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Have you been to my house? have you met the princess that allows me to care for her? She has even claimed my favorite Christmas present. I got an electic matress pad from my mom and when I turn it on she dives under the covers and refuses to budge. There truly is a lot to be learned from our pets. Cats are the best, loving, but not completely dependant. Thanks for this I enjoyed it immensly.
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