Kitten

We got a new kitten about two months ago. I say “we,” but I was the one who wanted her and my spouse grudgingly went along. Shortly after we got her, there was a two-week period when I wasn’t around, and my wife had to take care of her and our other pets. You guessed it, the kitten has bonded more with my wife and, although she doesn’t want to admit it, she is elated.

But, I digress, what I’ve noticed about this little kitten is she intrinsically trusts us. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been walking down the hall and she is sprawled out with her tail lying straight on the floor.  I think if I had been brought to a new place to live with a giant or two walking by all the time, I’d be cautious about not getting stepped on.  But, it goes beyond that. I was getting ready to take a shower and she was right there watching me. This continued right up until she heard the shower turn on, then she skedaddled. 

We have two other cats (both about 11 years old) that similarly trust us. With them, their trust could be attributed to the years of experience with us. They know from experience that not only will we attempt not to step on them, but also will provide for their needs and desires (if desires are limited to kitty toys). There is a good chance (I don’t remember exactly) that one of the two adult cats trusted us from the get-go because we got her as a kitten as well. The other adult cat was a rescue and was scared of his shadow when we first got him.

This doesn’t mean they get everything they want. Our pet philosophy for cats is they should be indoors only. I tell them often if they go outside, they’ll get gas (if you are ever over at our house, don’t tell them anything different). Our two adult cats are so used to this that when we bring groceries in, for example, we can leave the door open while we make our trips in and out, and they won’t try to go outside. So far, the new kitten hasn’t expressed any desire to investigate the outdoors either, but given her inquisitive nature, we will be on guard to discourage her.

As a parent, I remember a young child who watched everything I did and wasn’t afraid I’d step on him either. The big difference between the kitten and the young child is the child was watching, wanting to emulate and become an adult. 

“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.” - Revelation 3:19-21 ESV

“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” - Joshua 24:15

Now I don’t know how God looks at us. I can tell you that we love our son with all our hearts. Also, we have loved every one of our pets, past and present. The cats know I will do everything in my power not to step on them because of that love.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” - 1 John 4:7-12