Everything I Learned About Social Distancing I Learned From My Cat
How my cat taught me how to survive a global pandemic…
I have been a cat owner for eleven years this month. My entire family, including myself, is allergic to cats and about a dozen other things, so pets were never really in the picture. Since I never expected to o̶w̶n̶ be owned (let’s face it, she’s been in charge of my life since I was 9 years-old and she, and everybody else, knows it) by and in charge of an 8lb. feline, I’ve cherished every second of it. My entire young adult life was with that cat. From the minute I got home from school, she was always there, a constant and loyal companion. She never left me alone for longer than it took to eat her dinner or use the litter box, and I grew used to having her by my side; acting as my little four-legged shadow. This cat is so crazy, she even takes showers with me. Yeah, you read that right. She has no fear of water and enjoys getting wet and going on the occasional paddle board ride. My best friend furrever.
So when I went off to college, it was safe to say we were both heartbroken. Kiki (the cat in question), like I mentioned, hardly ever left my side while I was living with my parents. Now, my parents are getting used to having a toddler, I mean a cat, with them twenty-four-seven. Adjusting to college life was hardest on her, as she had no idea what was going on. How come she had to wait weeks and months at a time to see her human? How come mom and dad were the only ones ever around anymore? I, on the other hand, knew when I would get to see her next and was not worried about her at all seeing though she was safe with my parents and sister. Of course I missed her endlessly, but I was too busy with work and school to dwell on it for too long. And besides, there was always FaceTime… a matter that she never fully seemed to understand, however, and I guess it only lessened the ache in my heart a little.
But then, this whole global pandemic thingy happened, and both our worlds turned upside down and the cat was the only one who landed on all four paws. Suddenly, the house became full once more. Both parents were working from home and the best pawsible news was that both myself and my sister were home, for the foreseeable future, from college. While my fellow humans and I were thrown for a loop, the cat was perfectly fine. In fact, she was more than fine. Kiki was on a catnip high and she could not figure out why all her humans were moping about.
I decided to take this opportunity of living at home with way more time on my hands than I could ever imagine to ponder life’s most important questions; like what, if anything, I could learn from my surroundings and how to cope amongst this global pandemic. Turns out, everything I could possibly learn about social distancing I could learn from my cat.
The number one rule of surviving a global pandemic, from a cat’s point of view, is to get a lot of sleep. Bored? Take a nap. Tired from all the extra school work? Take a nap. Have nothing else to do and have exhausted all remaining resources? Take a nap. Can’t stay out late with friends anymore? Get to bed early. Basically, at every possible opportunity, curl up and get some sleep. It’s good for your health too, helps boost your immune system!
Number two: Always look your best for Zoom meetings. Just because you are not meeting anyone in person anymore, doesn’t mean you can’t go about life looking your best. Ever notice how often cats groom themselves? Take the hint and look your best everyday. Check your makeup in the mirror every once in a while. Sweats are comfy, but don’t be afraid to wear a cute dress. Fix your hair up in a new do. You finally have time to learn how to do a french braid!
Number three: Feel free to burst around your house for no apparent reason. We’re all stuck in our houses. We can’t go out to the gym. We can’t do anything much besides #stayhome. So why not lean into the crazy? Have your roommates point a red laser around for you to chase. Go on a walk (while staying at least six feet apart) with the dog. Cats (and other humans) deserve some alone time eventually, after all. Scream (or whisper scream, you want to be mindful of your family/friends) around the living room about x, y, or z, or shout along to your favorite song. No one’s saying that just because the world is crazy means you have to remain sane.
Number four & five: Continue to annoy mom, dad, or whatever parent figure you have in your life. You can’t let them become bored too! Call up your grandparents and check in with your neighbors. Do they need any help with groceries? Childcare? Know anyone working on the front lines? Reach out and see who you can help out. Everyone needs a metaphorical shoulder to lean. Ask mom when the laundry will be ready! After all, living with the cat again means there’s a lot of extra fur on every single item of clothing you posses. It’s hairball season too, so remind your caregivers to get cleaning.
Number six: Lay in the sun when you can. Soak up that vitamin D. Whether or not you live in a climate with snow, we’ve all had a long winter. Combine number one and number two and take a nap out in the sun. Breath in that fresh air and watch all the squirrels and chipmunks come out of hibernation. Roll in the dirt, chew on some grass, and dream of tomorrow.
Number seven: Don’t go outside where there are other dogs. I mean humans! Social distancing, absolutely, positively, needs to be taken seriously. Sure, go ahead and roll in the dirt, chew on some grass, and enjoy all that sunshine. But chase away all the dogs and human that come near. You’re not only protecting yourself, you’re protecting everyone else (especially those who are immunocompromised or have preexisting conditions) around you.
Number eight: Take the time to really notice things. As I have mentioned a couples times already, you have never had more time on your hands. Pay attention to your surroundings. Listen to the birds outside, continue watching your favorite show, and pay attention to the kind of news you are absorbing. There has never been a time where it’s been vital to follow the rules. Maintain that six feet apart. Don’t buy all the toilet paper and canned goods. It’s important to pay attention to your fellow quarantine buddies too. Check in with them and make sure they’re hanging in there. Offer them some cat time. Did you know that petting dogs and cats has been proven to relieve stress? Mental health is just, if not more, important as important as your physical health. Reach out to your friends if you need help. Take care of one another.
Number nine: Play with all available toys, including laptops. Your brain needs to be stimulated somehow, so why not become an expert in a new game? Sure, there’s plenty of game apps to choose from on your phone, but chances are you’re already spending quite a bit more time with technology anyways. Start a game of pass or monkey in the middle. Play with feather toys and spend hours running up and down your cat tree, or stairs. Build Legos, complete puzzles, or start a paint by numbers activity. It doesn’t matter what you play with, as long as you’re having fun. Walk across that keyboard even if your owner does get annoyed. What are they going to do? Kick you out during a shelter in place?
Number ten: Stick together… at a distance. Yes, the world is scary. Yes, this virus can take loved ones. Yes, this pandemic is messing everything up. But we do have each other. We have amazing nurses and doctors working around the clock to fight this thing. We have our pets that we can snuggle with all day long. We have our family, our friends, our teachers, our neighbors, and everyone else in this world to lean on. So be grateful. Be kind. Be safe.
Hopefully, you’ve learned a thing or two from my cat. I know that I have, and writing this piece has made me love my little feline even more.
Best Wishes💙
