A Lesson from my Cat
/All the advice about moving a cat is the same: introduce them to the carrier days before the move, make sure to have familiar objects and smells nearby, and introduce them to one room first.
I guess If forgot about anything I read that said how they’d react.
Today I moved my one and a half year old cat from the house he's known for most of his life. After bringing him into the bedroom, I left him in the carrier for a few minutes while I set up a few things. I rolled out a carpet he's laid on many times, put his favorite scratching pads around, brought in his toys and let up the little box.
Then I let him out and watched patiently as he ... sat there. He looked around. I petted his head. He scooted out a little, looked around more, and with a few more scratches started a low purr. Eventually, he came out more and crawled real low on the floor around one corner of the room before curving back to the side of the bed and crawled under the comforter.
He's been sleeping there ever since. I peak under every once and a while and even laid by him for a bit. I'm making it sound like it's been forever (because it's felt like that!), but really, it's barely been a few hours.
Still, I can't help but reflect on what this could teach me. He's probably a bit in shock from a major change in his environment, and perhaps a bit scared as cats like familiar surroundings. But I'm also taking note.
Sometimes when we're overwhelmed, the best thing to do is just to get under the covers and go to sleep.
So often, we tend to do the opposite. Distract ourselves, keep busy, pretend everything is okay.
But sometimes it's not okay. And we just need to feel it.
I'm sure my cat will come out eventually. I'll get to show him his litter box and the toys I made sure to bring him (and the new ones I got stored away). Before I know it, he'll be the king of the house finding new hidey-holes, learning which windows have the best light at what time of day, creating a new routine with me in our house.
For now, it's a big change and he's doing the thing he knows best: hiding and sleeping.
Can't say I blame him. I'm gonna try that myself someday.
I'd love to know:
What are your go-to's when it comes to stressful times?
What's your version of 'hiding and sleeping'?
