Cats...

A year and a half ago Kim and I had a dilemma. We wanted a change. Kids were not an option, I had done a great job of killing off my fish, so we had one last resort - actual pets. We discussed a dog - but couldn't agree on the type. I wanted some sort of beagle or small dog of the sorts - Kim wanted what I describe as a 'punting dog' one of those suckers that yaps so much you want to kick its butt across the lawn.

So we settled on cats. I had cats growing up and we managed to find one at the shelter that we thought was kind of like a dog. A month later we had two cats.

We have had 2 cats for going on 18 months now. They are such interesting things. All along we wanted a dog. In actuality we got 2 semi-dogs. 2 semi-humans. 2 semi-amazing pictures of dependency, need, sin and grace.

Both Kim and I are laptop people. Well we were. Or kind of are. I think that Sabby & Emma have chewed through no less than 5 Dell powercords in 18 months. Lucky for me we have a dealer up the street or I'd be in real trouble. Our light cords downstairs look like brail and it's a wonder that one of them hasn't been electrocuted. We made the mistake of leaving them without a friend checking on them for 3 days and one of them (most likely Sabby) left about 5 craps on the living room floor. We had to have them declawed (by the way an extremely harmless and beneficial move) because they just couldn't help tearing up our furniture or kneading it to death.

When they are truly awake and in their prime they are pyscho. They chase each other up and down the stairs, bite one another, jump on the counters, lay on top of the cabinets and get in every area they are not supposed to. The water bottle becomes our best friend - especially on a long Saturday or a lazy Sunday when we just spray the crap out of them to stop them from doing things that are destructive to themselves and our livelihood.

In short - they are very much sinful animals. But they care deeply about their masters.

Sebastian and Emma are great. Very not like what you'd expect out of cats. You snap your fingers and Sabby will run up and rub against you. Anytime there is even a semi open lap - Emma will jump on it, remote, magazine or laptop be damned. They are extremely friendly, but also take care of each other. Sebastian will clean Emma and likewise. They are great pets to have.

They are loyal. When I hit the garage door on the way home - inevitably one and usually both will be waiting by the door. When we go to bed at night, inevitably less than 5 minutes after we are done talking Sebastian will jump on the bed, do a full walk around the bed to make sure everything is ok, and then retire to the floor. Emma meanwhile sleeps at Kims feet - and we can only guess how many times she kicks her off at night (as an aside - these 'cats' are so loyal that if if i get up to work or write or surf in the middle of the night, guess who is sitting on the desk next to me - Sabby). When I wake up in the morning the bound down the stairs even though the food is already out for them. They are ridiculously loyal. AND they are CATS for crying out loud.

As I write this at 3:00 in the morning, Sabby has taken where my laptop usually is on my desk (it's on my lap) and has fallen asleep in front of me. As I pet him he responds with affection and love. When I get up to walk to the bedroom he'll follow me and when the alarm goes off at 6:45 even if i don't want to get up, Emma will be there to wake me up and Sabby will be ready to bound down those steps as I go after the coffee.

Oh that we might have a similar relationship with our master. That we might be that complicit in our sin but also so thankful in our grace and so obedient in our regular activities.

Did I mention that I'm actually allergic to cats?