Is this Rusty’s Story or My Story?
Let’s say it’s our story. My life would completely change when I brought home my tiny orphaned kitty. Not quite 6 weeks old, he was frightened, but liked the warmth when I held him. Little did I know I had just joined what I call “cat therapy.”
Pet therapy has become popular for good reason. Our furry little friends give us unconditional, judgement-free love, fulfill our basic need for touch and mutual affection that eases loneliness and anxiety.
According to HelpGuide.org studies have shown that:
- Pet owners are less likely to have depression than those without pets.
- People with pets have lower blood pressure in stressful situations than those without pets. One study even found that when people with borderline hypertension adopted dogs from a shelter, their blood pressure declined significantly within five months.
- Playing with a dog, cat, or other pet can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which calm and relax.
- Pet owners have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels (indicators of heart disease) than those without pets.
- Heart attack patients with pets survive longer than those without.
- Pet owners over age 65 make 30 percent fewer visits to their doctors than those without pets.
The terrible conditions where Rusty was found made him very timid. But he loved his milk enough to venture out of the safety of his kitty crate whenever I offered him a dish, and he quickly accepted my love and affection. He especially enjoyed curling up on my chest and nuzzling in my neck to nap. So cute, right? Well, now that he weights over 10 pounds, this activity is a bit more challenging!
Rusty is my first kitten, so I was grateful for the excellent advice given me from the seasoned cat owner I adopted him from: be patient, give him space, and wait for him to make contact.
Slowly, but surely, we created a foundation of trust and love. I pulled him out of a life of survival, and he pulled me out of a deep depression. Rusty is heaven-sent and shines hope into my dark world. Caring for him helps pull me out of a cycle of negative self-analyzing. He holds my face in his paws, looks in my eyes, purrs like crazy, and touches my nose with his, letting me know he loves me just the way I am. Rusty reminds me to take time for play, laughter, and snuggles.
Together, we spend our days discovering the many nuances of sharing life, feline and human. It is more delightful than I could have imagined and I know he feels the same!
Now, my little boy kitty is all grown up and staying sweet. He is an excellent timekeeper and a good routine manager.
Our big question: can a lifelong dog guy (my husband) become a cat guy? Answer: yes! It has been fun seeing their relationship develop. They both like to get up early and have adapted to their own morning routine. Rusty convinced him a cat needs two servings of breakfast, like a hobbit.
The biggest surprise was one morning, as I was getting up for coffee, my husband says, “Hey, watch this!” He proudly shows how he taught the cat to sit on command, like a dog.
So, yes, my dogish-hobbit-kitty is doing fine! Although he has gotten a little plump from second breakfasts and training treats! Time to schedule some additional ball chasing!
Rusty’s Guide to a Sweet Life
Rusty and I have learned a lot on our journey together. I had some creative fun in making Rusty’s Guide to a Sweet Life (click each image to enlarge):
Inspired Self-Care
Rusty gave me the courage to pursue my self-care. I spent a year blogging about my experiences. He also inspired the creation of Teawater, my resident self-care expert. Teawater will delight you with a graphic representation of the key elements of self-care. Check out my self-care page here and you can meet Teawater there too.
I would love to hear your pet stories! Please leave a comment below.
The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel.
Proverbs 12:10
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