Uh-oh!!! Addicted to petting cats, lots of cats... (kittens, kidney, dogs)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Three weeks ago, I was having a really bad day and told myself that I needed to find a way to cheer up. It popped into my head how happy and content I am when petting a cat on my lap. So I stopped by the closest no-kill animal shelter on the way home from work and petted as many cats as would have me. Man, did that chase the blues away!
But now I am addicted, needing to visit the cats at least every two days. I have lost my heart several times already to cats who seemed like they "belonged" with me from the first meeting. (Happily for them, they have found forever homes; just not mine). I can't adopt now because our remaining cat is in the last months of kidney disease and we don't want to introduce the stress caused by a new furry companion into her home life.
Is anyone else similarly afflicted??? I don't really want to be cured of this addiction, just would like to hear from kindred spirits.
I would say of any possible addictions, this one is a good one for you to have. You don't spend extra money and it makes you feel fulfilled. More volunteers are needed at animal shelters....I think your new hobby is commendable.
LOL, I volunteer at my local animal shelter. I'm pretty much a dog volunteer (I walk dogs and do the Petco adoptions) but one day I had to go in and see the kittens. I spent half an hour as a human jungle gym for 9 tiny, fluffy, squeaky little kitties. Best. Antidepressant. Ever. LOL.
What you're describing is what our family calls "fur therapy," and it's a regular part of good mental health maintenance. My sister, who is in the early stages of separation/divorce from a difficult spouse, makes regular stops by a no-kill shelter with her two youngsters for the same kind of fix, and it is incredibly therapeutic for all three of them. And the kitties seem to thrive on it, too.
On another level, if you are preparing yourself to bid farewell to a beloved kitty at home, one of the best things that you can do right now is to keep reminding yourself that there are lots of other kitties out there who need the same kind of loving care that you're giving your current feline. It's so terribly hard to see a beloved pet cross the bridge, but it can help some to remember that there are other critters who can brighten your life, too.
Nothing is more relaxing then petting one of our kittens (rescued two from a kill shelter). Even watching them play together brings us joy and makes us laugh.
Last edited by =^..^=; 12-06-2009 at 01:22 AM..
Reason: mispelled word
A few days after I wrote the original post, my mother passed away. We were very close and she was a fierce lover of animals. My only kitty at home is hanging in there but I expect any day to see the first definite sign that she is in pain from end-stage kidney disease. We won't let her suffer.
My recently-developed addiction to petting lots of shelter kitties has given me some comfort. Mother would have approved big-time. My home kitty still likes to be petted but is isolating herself more and more. It's clear that I want the petting sessions more than she does right now. The shelter kitties have come to my rescue, by giving me this wonderful "fur therapy", as MidwesternBookWorm called it.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
