How Does Your Cat Love Thee?

PetPlace.com - Article: Do Our Pets Really Love Us?

How does Sasser love his Cat-momma? Let me count the ways:

He follows me around. Unless I leave the room while he is in Dreamland, he sticks with me like a second shadow. It doesn't work to keep him out, too. I could bear his caterwauling but the door's paintwork will not stand up to his relentless scratching.

His keen, soulful eyes send woeful messages of "Please don't leave" everytime I take a step out of my apartment. I close the door behind me with this lingering image of dejection. I have to consciously shake it off. Upon my arrival, Sasser would greet his momma with felicitous rejoicing. His homecoming ritual is always the same: lilting meows, contented purrs, walking in tight circles, rubbing his head against my ankles.

He does the slow blink everytime I talk with him. It's like seeing a toddler do "beautiful eyes." Siamese, being some of catdom's coolest customers, are not considered great lap cats. But a cat is a cat; so there are times when Sasser would seek my lap. He'd begin by scratching my knee and looking up with half-closed eyes. It could melt a heart -- even the stoniest of hearts.

When he's in a frolicky mood, Sasser would roll over and spread his hind legs wide. This is his way of telling me that he wants to be groomed. I can tell that he likes the feel of the soft bristles running along his tummy. I would brush with my right hand and rub his chin with my left. Now this is no less than first class pampering service. Let the pet groomers at Animal House beat that!

I think Sasser has exhibited every sign of affection listed in the article with the exception of love offerings. Unfortunately, a garden-less apartment on the 26th floor of a condo building doesn't offer him much of a hunting ground. Lizards are a gastronomic rarity so I don't get even a morsel of it.