A Walk, A Teenager, and A Kitten

This is my eldest, a teenager who seldom comes out of her room, the member of the tribe, Gen Z.

It was a sunny day, and I had been sitting in the lawn under the sun for most of it. To my surprise and delight, she came out and said, "Mama, let's go for a walk." I happily agreed.

But then, she saw the stray cat just at our gate. It's a mix of stray and pet and that too of the neighbor's. Technically a stray, but the neighbors kind of treat it like a pet. Their boys play with it all day, and the cat comes and goes as she pleases. To be honest, all the cats in our area are like that: free to roam wherever they like. They rule this place!

My husband and I don’t encourage the children to pet them, as stray cats can carry diseases and aren’t particularly clean. But my daughters, especially the eldest, just can’t resist them. She’ll pick one up on impulse and start petting it without a second thought.

And then, all of a sudden, she asked, "Mama, where’s Baba?" She very well knows that her father doesn't like her getting so intimate with stray cats. But this kitten is so pretty. How could one say no to her. I said, "It’s okay, you can pet her a little longer." So, our walk kind of turned into "cat time."

After a while, she unwantingly put the kitten down, and then we stood there, watching her play. We noticed that there were two other cats around also. We forgot our walk altogether and became so invested in their playful antics.

They kept going in and out of the dustbin. We didn't know if they were looking for food or just playing around. We were just enjoying their playtime.

I was wondering what it is about cats that make them so adorable, especially the kittens. I don’t express it in front of my children, but I do like cats, and it's almost irresistible to hold them. But I've never actually held one, maybe because I’m skeptical that they might claw me or just not like me, whatever the reason. But kittens are just so adorable. You simply fall in love with these little balls of fur.

We watched as the little kitten went to the white one, the female, and started getting clingy and affectionate, almost as if it were her mom.

I don’t know why, but I’ve always found kittens somewhat like human babies. As a mother to three children, I can feel that kind of behaviour from them. I find them cute for many reasons, one of which is that they exhibit behaviors similar to those of human babies. They’re playful and curious, exploring their environment with a sense of wonder and excitement. And those puppy eyes... Lol, what on earth am I trying to say? :) The point is, they behave like babies, even the adult ones. Don't you think so?

I’ve often also wondered why cats are so strongly attracted to humans. While stray cats may seek food, I think there's more to it. I read somewhere that cats are highly sensitive creatures. They pick up on subtle cues from humans, like body language, sounds, or even the scent of food, which draws them closer. Do they associate positive experiences, like getting food, being petted?? Or simply enjoying our company, with our presence?

These cats, though, have their own unique charm. We humans could learn a lot from them, especially when it comes to showing affection and enjoying the simple moments together. Unless they bite you and bring mice to your place. Yes, it has happened a few times. I’ve found them attacking frogs just for the joy of killing.

But I thank these neighborhood cats for showing me that a teenager can also show love. They can cuddle and they have a heart in their body, a creature that never shows this much love for any other member of the family!

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Well, what if I told you that I’m finding adult cats, especially the male ones, not cute at all? Yes, one orange cat found the kitchen door open, spoiled a loaf of bread, and spilled milk all over the counter. And as if that wasn’t enough, it left paw prints everywhere, making a mess all over the floor. It was definitely not the charming, adorable moment I expected from a cat.