May 5th, 2022 Thursday Sunny with some clouds
Cats are fascinating creatures.
While I usually agree with the above 100%, there are times I feel that it is just a nice way of saying “cats have quirks that we humans do not understand but find adorable anyway.” 😛
Our sweet kitty, Lyn, is recovering from an illness that almost took her away. In late March, I would constantly stop whatever I was doing (working, cooking, reading, etc.) to check on her and make sure she was comfortable and well-fed. With all our prayers and efforts (and medications plus fluid, of course), she gradually came back. We knew she started feeling better the moment she was naughty again.
Yeah, that means she started making attempts to climb onto the kitchen counter (and into the kitchen sink) after having stayed away for a month or so.
Of course, I am as determined to block her as ever. Yesterday, when she made her way onto the counter the third time while I was preparing dinner, I gently picked her up, gave her a little squeeze and a kiss, and in a whim, instead of laying her down on the floor as usual, placed her on top of a plastic container that we use to store rice.
Once dinner preparation was finally done, I turned around – to my surprise, Lyn did not move! She was still firmly parked on top of that plastic lid! She gave me a cute look, “mommy, I will just wait for you here.”
I could not help but laugh. And I realized that the plastic lid of our rice container just happened to be the perfect “kitty trap” for Lyn.
Cats like being in small and enclosed space, because it makes them feel safe. This instinct is so well-known that on the internet thousands of people post videos or pictures of their cat being “trapped”. The kitty trap can be any small space that is just a little bigger than the size of the cat to allow them freedom of turning their bodies, and it can even be marked with tapes/markers on the floor, with no actual “barrier” for cats to get out. Once a trap is made/drawn, often the time your cat will go sit in there willingly. Watching your cat “trapped” in a square that you draw on the floor as if s/he is inside an invisible box can be super hilarious.
Come to think of it, when we are laughing at this quirky cat behavior, do we recognize that we humans are not that different from our feline companions after all, that we also tend to be confined by an invisible trap that we set up for ourselves, unable or at least unwilling to break out for the fear of uncertain risks?
It is called a “comfort zone”.
I think it is great to have a comfort zone, a space that one can feel safe and in control. Without it, the world can be vast and overwhelming. At the same time, I also feel that it is important to be aware of the universe outside of the comfort zone, and realize there are endless scenes for us to explore once we are recharged from staying in the comfort zone. By stepping out of the comfort zone and pushing ourselves to do more, we continue to grow.
Lyn eventually jumped off the rice container lid. Maybe her need for safety was satisfied. Maybe she was ready for more mischiefs. Regardless, the kitchen counter defense will start again. ?