THE KITTEN, about two or three months old, started hanging out on my front porch. At first I left it alone, thinking it might want to go home, if it had a home, and also because it was reluctant to let me get close to it.
I was beautiful. Gray, with tan splotches all over its body and adorbable face. It kept coming back, but would not let me get close or touch it. Then I set out some food, which it ate enthusiastically, although it was not underweight and seemed quite healthy.
After several days of food and water, but still no kitten - in - lap, i decided to roll the dice. The kitten had just eaten, but I was still hungry. So I marched into the kitchen, made a tuna sandwich on whole wheat, and returned to the porch.
Ulfactory thus ignited, the kitten started making noise, and rubbing against my legs. One small bite of tuna, and the fuzzy soft little thing was in my lap, and the affection began. All it took was one small chunk of a dead animal.
The purina nutritionally balanced grain based cat chow didn't do it, the tuna did. My what carnivores we are. For a little while kitten lost interest in purina, and i found myself amazed at how quickly an animal, even homeless and hungry, can get "spoiled".
"spoiled" is real. spoiled happens to humans, and yes, to animals. Spoiled is when a three yeard old won't play with the expensive new toy, because its the wrong color.
A professor of economics once told me that the love which a parent feels for a child is usually automatic, unconditional, but that the parent must purchase the love of a child. A businessman with three kids, two dogs, and a cat once told me that he in effect was the father of six children. At least, that's the way he felt.
Kitten likes to rub its little head against my face. I feel that I am owned and controlled by a one pound bundle of fuzziness that insists upon my absolute and unqualified love.
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