Andromeda. The nearest sister galaxy to our own Milkyway, named after Greek mythology heart-throb. An apt name for such a loving and beautiful creature as a cat. As I write this she is laying on top of me, and as I edit it a few days later, right beside. A stunning tortouiseshell, white pawed, split faced, pointy earied demonspawn.
Pet Ownership Morallity
Animals as pets have always presented a moral quandary within me. How is it fair that these beings are more or less forced to live with their owners? As a counter point, you look at longevity statistics and it apparently it pays off to live inside and be a pet. However I wonder, does living a longer, less exciting, life best a short and thrilling one? Hard to say. Some pet owners are really sweet to their pets, others, not so much. The pet doesn’t really get to choose the owner either, and obviously doesn’t have the outright ability to walk away from the situation they may find themselves in. Soooo, is pet ownership morally wrong? Sounds kinda like slavery.
Evolutionary Utility
For millennia cats and dogs have lived alongside humans. It’s basically built into their DNA. Domestication is a strange, strange concept. Evolutionarily dogs and humans joined forces to hunt for food. And cats and humans joined forces to protect food stocks. But that utilitarian viewpoint for pet ownership has for the most part gone away. Now they are more often than not emotional support animals. Still, it’s hard to say in either scenario exactly what the animal feels is a fair arrangement.
Symbiotic Relationships
I take very good care of my cat, she is my best friend. Andromeda helps me understand some of the more simple and obvious parts of life. Andromeda is less a pet and more friend in my eyes. But then again, when I go take a hike and pick up sticks and rocks I end up calling those my friends as well. Maybe that’s not the best word, perhaps companion is more like it. Pets are humans’ companions. There’s something so unique about the beauty of life in an alternate package with a different genealogy and subspecies utility. The variation in types of pets people take in is also interesting, there’s cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, snakes, geckos, lizards. Shoot, you can have really big pets like pigs, cows, sheep and horses although not as common, and most often those domesticated animals are bred for farming. Without a doubt the most popular pets are cats and dogs. I wonder why that is.
My Companion
Andromeda is the best companion I could ask for. We met when she was only a few months old, picked up off the street somewhere in the south, then transported to a shelter in Pittsburgh. The same shelter that I just so happened to walk in to that faithful day in early 2020. She’s got a wonderful personality, very talkative, very expressive, intelligent and able to communicate her needs. Does she really need me to survive? I doubt it. But she knows that she can rely on me to survive, and because of that dependability, what feels like a great appreciation is born. Because if you’re with someone that gives you everything that you need to survive it’s hard not to love them for consistently taking care of you.
Andromeda has done so much for me as a person. I’ve come to better realize why it is we as humans have cats. As I was saying earlier, back in the old days they were for chasing off vermin and protecting the crop from the most recent harvest. Now, they are a luxury addition to our lives. They don’t lack the same utility, for instance Andromeda will gladly chase down bugs and mice if she sees them, even catch a snake and bring it to me. All those old engrained utilities are nice and all, but there’s more. Andromeda helps me in ways I don’t even think she understands.
Andromeda has been there for me in the brightest and darkest moments of my life. The value she provides in my life is immeasurable. To get some of the obvious things out of the way, of course the regular requirement to keep another animal alive is non negligible. That responsibility helps you follow your own routine and gives you an opportunity to be a better person. One level deeper than that, they also help you appreciate your own life more. She helps me cope with the stresses of modern life. Helps me relax and take it easy, to appreciate the simpler things.
Some of the different things that I love about Andromeda is when she really wants to play she will bring her toy to you wherever you may be in the house. String in mouth, roaring like a lion, she will drop it at your feet and demand play, doesn’t matter if you’re busy or not. Miss Andromeda has a strong affinity for strings, specifically shoelaces. Whether they’re on a shoe or not she very much enjoys shoelaces which is I guess no surprise because she also loves snakes. Something in her DNA says that those are fun to play with, or that you should chase and kill them. Often playing with Andromeda feels like I’m giving her some exercise in what her species was for so long dedicated to do for humankind.
She loves to nibble on me when I don’t pet her enough. Like she will grab my hand with her paw or bite to say, “you’re not done petting yet”. When I got Andromeda I said to myself, I want a cat that would kind of be a bitch, and I definitely got a cat like that. She’s very food motivated as well. Always hopping up on the chair next to me when I’m having dinner, pawing at my spoon every bite trying to get her share of the food. I’ll let her have a little bit of salmon or chicken from time to time because I can’t help but spoil her.
She’s so smart she knows how to do a few tricks I taught her when she was a kid. She can sit, stay, shake hands and spin around. She loves showing those off to new friends. Matter of fact, she loves making new friends. Whenever I bring anyone over, she is the most friendly and curious cat. Never running away and hiding, which I love. She has different types of meows that communicate different things to me. Whether she’s happy or upset, needs water, food, play or a clean box. She will paw at the window or door to the patio when she wants a breath of fresh air. Needless to say, she has a way of getting what she wants. She knows her name, and she’s knows when she’s being a trouble maker. Like when she tries biting my toothbrush or puts her back paws on the table.
She’s a split gene tortoise shell, meaning one of her sides is a little bit lighter than the other. It’s very obvious in her face, but the split goes all the way down her backside. Her left side has substantially more tabby in it. Funny enough, I think she knows that because whenever she goes to stretch or lay down she always tries to show off that tabby side. She doesn’t love it when I try to give her kisses on the forehead and she doesn’t normally let me play with her paws or toe beans either. And she absolutely despises when I sing, I think she’s under the impression I’m dying because she will come up and bite me in the neck as if that will resuscitate me. Once every blue moon she will lose one of her bright white whiskers around the house, and it feels like an easter egg finding one.
I can’t imagine life without her. She is, without a doubt, the most precious and beautiful thing in my life. Recently, with all the stress I’ve been going through, her and I will just cuddle together and breathe. She gives great hugs and loves to be held. Anytime I go to lay down, no matter where I am in the house, moments later she’ll arrive. Not so patiently awaiting her opportunity to lay down on my right hip and sprawl out. When I’m not around to be her personal heater, she’ll lay on my clothes, clean or dirty, doesn’t matter. I imagine she’s attracted to my scent. If not in a pile of laundry, you can find her on the bed, on a window sill, in the hammock, or occasionally on top of the cupboards in the bathtub. She’s got all her spots, and every so often will deviate, like when she plops down in a drawer, or sneaks into the medicine closet when I’m not looking.
Wherever she decides to rest, I know deep down she is at peace being with me. Our bound is strong. I love her very much, and I can tell she loves me.
