I haven’t looked up the answers to this question but it has crossed my mind recently. Chachi, the cat, has been showing signs of the stress syndrome, the human kind.
He has had a tough time recently. I had my first surgery 6 weeks ago and he had to put up with a cat sitter. The sitter was really nice but little brat wanted his mommy back and looked at her with a face that said, “Do not mess with me!”
The second surgery was two weeks ago, and another sitter took over. A very pretty girl with a great attitude and a love for cats but Little Macho wasn’t having that either. Each time, she went over to him and cooed his name, his green eyes glazed over and that, “Back off!” look got switched on.
Before all of that his friends, Shiro and Gallahad left. They had spent 3 months with us and he became good friends with Galli, the British long-haired cat with the orange eyes. Shiro, the white Persian, with an attitude was not to his liking. They hissed when they passed each other and it stayed that way until she left. The leaving took a toll on him. His friends were gone and he was left wondering if he had done something wrong. Yes, he did plenty wrong but we won’t get into that. Master of the Castle comes to mind and sharing is not his thing is the other.
These were three events that put tremendous stress on his little soul. All of it seemed like abandonment to him and how do you deal with that? How do humans deal with stress? Some of us turn towards meditation, workouts, breathing and a whole host of other healthy ways of dealing with stress and others? Well, others turn to FOOD! Binge-eating to be more exact.
Do cats imitate humans when to comes to dealing with stress? I think they do. Chachi, the cat, has taken to EATING! He eats, and eats, and eats! I noticed this recently when his food plates went empty in a short amount of time, and not only that they were licked clean!
He was moping by the window looking bored when I approached him yesterday.
Me: “I think you are putting on weight, we need to cut back on food.”
Brat: “What do you mean WE? Speak for yourself. I need my food and it’s the only thing I have right now.”
Me: “You have me and binging is not the way to do it.”
Brat: “Do what? I love eating mommy and the new dried food is fantastic.”
He’s talking about the new variety of dry food that I got him. It is supposed to be healthy for his skin and his hair. Let me tell you, his fur is soft as silk now and that is something I suppose. Back to my conversation with the Little Snort.
Me: “Glad you like it but I’ve decided that you get wet food in the mornings and dry at night and not both at the same time.”
Brat: “Bah Humbug!”
Yes, he takes after his mom, things rub off on him. I watch as he jumps off the kitchen counter and waddles to the staircase. Yes, that part of him is getting bigger than his head!
Me: “Chachi, I make the rules around here and it is for your own good.”
Brat: “Can I tell you something mommy?”
Me: “If you must.”
Brat: “I’m not putting up with your dictatorial ways!”
Me: “Baby, you have no other choice.”
Brat: “Dont baby me! What’s with all the name calling? I hate the last one you came up with.”
He’s talking about “Little Betty.” I don’t know why I came up with that name but it sounded cute at the time and I’ve shortened it to “Betty,” but it is a no go with the brat.
Me: “Okay, you’ve got a point there. I’ll stop with the names and you stop with the binge-eating. Deal?”
Brat: “Can I have Galli back, mommy?”
Me: “Galli is back with his daddy and I’m sure he misses you. You’ll just have to do with me. Sorry buddy.”
Brat: “BAH HUMBUG!”
Me: “Chachi, I love you.”
Brat: “Meow! Meow! Meow!
We’ll see how this goes. The challenge is on and I usually win so no fears there.
Have an amazing day.
