Nature of the Beast

Everyone in our house behaves according to their nature. I like to think that I'm the adult, in charge of myself and sometimes in charge of Alex and George, depending on their whim of the moment. Alex will always tell me when I'm wrong about that, but George has a different approach. George worries about stuff.

He worries when the gardner comes, because they make a lot of noise. When they are close to whatever window he's in he runs to hide. He worries when the dogs bark, as they do at other dogs or people walking down the street. He worries if he sees a suitcase because it means someone is leaving. He worries when he can see the bottom of his dry food bowl. Alex doesn't worry about any of those things. He lets met know when he wants attention, when he wants food, when he wants to go out(which never works, he is a strictly indoor cat), and if he wants to be left alone. Otherwise his world is one long nap in various places, depending on the sun. Sometimes he bats the silver cat nip mouse he got at the vet, sometimes he chases a wadded up tea bag wrapper. But he's fine with just about anything.

They're both cats but completely different in how they behave in their environment. George will hide when we have visitors, Alex will inspect them, smell them, try to get on their laps and generally make it known that he is present. He's an extrovert. George is an introvert. They have distinct personalities.

I am always amazed by people who think of pets as 'animals', with nothing but instinct to guide them. All they need to do is pay attention to the nearest dog or cat. They have many of the foibles and graces of humans, including a sense of humor.

I read something recently about a law being considered in Switzerland, allowing animals to have legal representation, for what I don't know. But it's an interesting question. Maybe one we should be asking.