Last December, I needed a new place to live and a friend of mine needed a tenant for her empty condo. Win-Win.
Well, except that the condo wasn’t exactly empty. Along with a couch and chair and dining room set, the condo came with a cat. My friend and her husband had moved to Atlanta and they couldn’t take him with them. They’d been trying to find him a new home, but had so far been unsuccessful. So the cat, Cain (yes, as in Cain and Able), was living the bachelor life in the condo with his automatic feeder and waterer and self-cleaning litter box. Cain was fully automated.
I love all animals: horses, snakes, lizards, bats, squid, narwhals. I grew up with both cats and dogs, so I had no problem moving in with Cain. As long as Cain had no problem with me moving in with him.
That’s the thing about cats, they have opinions. Strong ones. Not having lived with a cat since I was a child, I’d forgotten most of what I once knew about cat behavior. As the days turned to weeks turned to months, I relearned a lot. Such as:
– Unlike dogs, clapping your hands and saying, “okay, let’s go” means absolutely nothing to a cat. They will continue to lay on your bed and stare into space like you don’t exist.
– Cats will adore you with the entirety of their little fuzzy hearts right up until the random millisecond when they want to rip your face from your skull.
– That “I see dead people” stare they’ll do at a spot right over your shoulder then run from the room like their tail is on fire.
– No flat surface is out of a cat’s reach. I hid a dime bag of cat nip on top of the refrigerator and Cain found it, chewed it open, and ate the entire contents. I came home from work to find him rolling and drooling on the kitchen floor higher than Seth Rogen celebrating his birthday at James Franco’s house.
– Cats show affection by causing pain, i.e., kneading your flesh with their claws while they snuggle and purr and you whimper and cry.
– Cats have a burning desire to chalk your nose like a pool cue with their starfish every chance they get.
– Cats are, basically, assholes.
Like with any roommate situation, there was an adjustment period, but Cain and I have settled into a routine. This mostly involves him doing what ever the fuck he wants and me trying not to trip over him on the stairs and kill myself. It works for us.
Amy C. Amy Do. 
1) I’ve never loved cats and you just emphasized that I don’t want to ever be a cat owner
2) Be very thankful you found a place that works for you, I had to swallow my pride and move back in with my parents. Luckily there have not been any homicides…yet.
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I am more a dog person, but I grew up with cats so I’m used to them. And I did live with my sister for a while. I’d have to either relocate to FL or MI to live with either of my parents. Glad you’re all still alive!
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I like that cats make you earn their fickle affection – daily, whereas dogs just throw it at you. Mine is old (15) and crotchety and needs injections twice a day to stay alive, so he challenges me with his eyes to get the needle in. We’ve had many fun tussles over this! đŸ˜€
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Cats are like Mjolnir – they only respond to those who are worthy. And their claws are like lightning.
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I love that picture of you two, it looks like a watercolor by one of the “masters”. Cain looks so benign I cannot imagine him doing any of the hateful things you mentioned.
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Don’t be fooled by his cuteness. He’s only managing to stay perched on my shoulder thanks to his claws firmly imbedded in my flesh.
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Love that photo! đŸ™‚
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Thank you. Webcam selfie with my cat. I’m officially a citizen of the Internet.
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Haha. I may have to do one with mine now đŸ˜‰
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My cat likes to sit on an ottoman by my desk and swipe at my arm while I work. It is adorable.
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Your blood appeases him. Sacrifices must be offered.
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Yeah, I’m a new again cat owner too, after about 20 years. I also keep finding all these cat/dog differences that I’d forgotten. Like when I walk down the hall, my dog jumps out of the way, but my cat makes me walk around her. Too funny.
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I nudge Cain with my foot to try and get him to move and he just bites my toe. My dog practically apologizes to me when I accidentally step on her paw. Major differences!
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Damn.
Sounds like you’re describing my ex. Good luck with that!
*heaves sigh of relief*
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Your ex had a nip problem? That’s unfortunate.
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In so many ways.
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Glad Cain has let you move in! đŸ™‚
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It was touch and go there for a while, but he allows me to feed him and change his litter in exchange for a roof over my head. He is too kind.
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My nephew is looking for a home for his 5yr old Shepherd. I think Cain needs some positive influences in his life – you know, an animal to aspire to being.
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Unfortunately, the one thing the condo did not come with is a yard or I would snatch up that Shepherd in a heart-beat! And Cain already aspires to be human, which may be a step up for a cat, but is still not as good as being a dog.
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