Callie moved in from a shelter a few weeks ago. She’s a true witch’s cat: all black, and smart AF. We keep her indoors (don’t need your opinion on any of this, thanks) and this means she plays with us a lot.
Here’s a handful of things I learned because of this. Disclaimer: I’m not saying this is how it’ll be with your cat, I’m not a cat expert, do your research etc. This is in no particular order.
- It is the most fascinating thing: to see a living creature learn something. Every day, I watch Callie work out a puzzle, or a shortcut during our chasing / hunting games, or how to use a new toy. And often, when it clicks, it stays clicked – or improves.
- I think I used to under-estimate how strong bodies are. If you think Callie looks fragile and tiny on that photo, then try to pry her favourite toy from her jaws / paws after she’s hunted it down. I’m learning lots about strength from that little slender girl.
- Endurance, meet sprinter! Most of my workouts are geared towards burning low for long periods of time. This cat is the opposite: all explosive energy, sprints, leaps and bursts. Another way in which our different mindsets meet.
- Rhythm is king. Callie sleeps through the first part of the day, and most of the evening. She is, however, super active in the morning and at dusk. This is hunting time, and it’s pointless to try and focus on anything else: she will come and pester us until we play.
- Play is how we vent. Every cat that ends up on YouTube because they demolish someone’s house / throw things off a shelf / behave in a destructive way is a cat whose mojo isn’t given free rein. Educators, headmasters, academy trusts, sad men in suits telling youth what to do: come play with my cat.
- Play is not optional. This goes together with #5 above. But it also keeps Callie from developing health problems, keeps her claws in check, helps us work out her diet… We play because we all like it, but also because this isn’t an “extra” – it’s what the cat needs.
- Laser pointers ain’t sh*t. Listen, this one will vary from cat to cat. I once lived with a cat who needed one (1) minute of red-dot to spend most of the remaining week glued to the spot in front of the wall where I shone it. The cat we live with took two evenings to understand that a) she can’t ever catch the dot and b) the gizmo in my hand is where the dot comes from.
- Punk DIY toys are sometimes the best toys. There was a moment, early on, when we had a tiny breakdown – it seems that not one of the expensive toys we bought for Callie would help scratch her hunting itch. But then I pulled a long yellow Dr. Martens shoelace from my drawer. Callie went bonkers, and still does.
- I enjoy watching what she likes. This cat is a “sneak attack” type of hunter (I learned this when she retreated behind a curtain on purpose, so she could pounce on something that didn’t really need pouncing on). She’s also attuned to acoustics (I saw that she’ll chase things more easily when they’re on the carpet or rug, because she prefers this sound to the hardwood floors). There are plenty of other things I’m looking forward to discovering. It may be true that “learning styles” are a myth – but there’s no denying preferences, and they definitely make her tick.
- It’s always a two-way thing. I’m not the only one learning stuff. She’s not the only one having fun. When we play together, neither of us “wins” something or “gets their way”. It feels like kinship, and working out ways to live with each other. I missed this. Looks like she did, too.
What did your kin teach you? Let me know (links to socials below).
Vic Kostrzewski (cost-chef-ski, he/him) is a Learning Designer, Translator and Project Manager based in South Wales. To discuss a new project, email anytime: vic@cost-chef.ski
