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Hi, I’m Dr. Maja! Read my introduction to learn more about me and Miki, the kitten who made me a cat person.
Being a vet, seeing some of my clients have two, three or more cats, and volunteering in Greece, where some people feed as many as fifteen or more stray neutered cats, I thought that, to have the somewhat unpopular title of being a Crazy Cat Lady, you surely must have a dozen or more cats. Not to mention, the stereotype often mistakenly, or even hurtfully, presumes it’s a middle-aged or older woman, single or widowed, and a little bit strange to say the least. Well, I decided it’s time to beat this prejudice and prove that even having one cat can make you a little bit crazy, just enough to “earn” the title of a Crazy Cat Lady.
Breaking It Up a Bit
Well, if you think about it, it doesn’t take much to be frowned upon and called a crazy cat lady these days, often by people who don’t even have cats, especially if you are a single woman with a feline companion. And there is a certain stigma around it. However, anyone who has ever owned a cat knows how special they are, and it can be difficult to stop at just one.
Cats bring joy and laughter into our lives, with a little bit of terror and confusion, and if having one means being considered crazy, then that’s how it will be. On another note, I am also sure there are plenty of crazy cat gents out there as well, but at the end of the day, we are all just overjoyed cat parents.
To wear this title proudly, you need cats. Well, the amount of worry Miki sometimes causes me, he may as well count as several cats. Having a cat is a life-changing experience in so many ways. Everything you thought you knew about cats, well, it all dissipates into thin air when you realize, cats have not read the same textbook and follow their own intangible rulebook. It’s like they’re a part of a secret society and there is no way you can get in.
Miki Certainly Makes Me Go Crazy With Worry At Times
It can be stressful owning a cat. And it sometimes feels that vets and vet nurses always have the most complicated animals, with all the weird and wonderful things. Being a year old now, Miki has already had a lump removed from his leg after a vaccine, which luckily turned out to be just a reaction. Makes me think, what’s next?
So far, we’ve been quite lucky, Miki avoiding injuries and illnesses, despite going outside and encountering various wild and domestic animals on his way. He even tried to approach cows in a nearby field and survived. He’s learned how to avoid my neighbor’s dogs, who don’t like cats but often pass through my land with their herd of sheep. Still, I believe I will always have a degree of anxiety, knowing how much danger there is, and whether Miki will be able to stay out of trouble. So, having a cat actually makes you a little bit crazy with worry, at least it happened to me.
Signs I’m Crazy About Miki
When I speak to my friends, they know to first ask about Miki, and then my family and the dogs. How life changed in a year. Being a bit OCD, all my pets wear a GPS tracker, as they’re all prone to mischief. I like to keep track of Miki’s whereabouts and if I notice him going too far from home, or too close to my neighbor’s house, I will pause everything I am doing, so I can look for him.
My excuse for worrying so much is him being young and inexperienced, but now I realize he is more capable than I think. So the only solution I can think of is getting a few more rescue cats. But not before next year, or when one in need finds a way to me.
How I Make My Cat Sitters Crazy
One thing is me worrying about Miki when I’m home, but another altogether is that anxious feeling I get when I’m away or out of the country. I am so lucky and grateful to have my mum and good friends being able to help look after my animals when I’m traveling. But I have a feeling they may see right through me and realize I am indeed crazy about my animals, as much as I try to paint a different picture.
Let’s just say, when Miki decides to go on his little adventures just as the night sets in, I subtly urge my beloved cat sitters to go out looking for him. I do present it in the most romantic way possible. “Just go for a little walk in the woods, in the dead of night, stick to the path, don’t mind the sounds, it’s just wild animals, they won’t hurt you. Miki is not far, call him a few times and he’ll be there. There’s absolutely nothing to fear.” I am just lucky they haven’t blocked my number yet. But Miki’s safety is my priority.
Embracing The Crazy
If crazy means having a feline companion, or a few of them, I’m up for it. Having a cat has changed my life. I am used to dogs and read their little body language quirks quite well, but since Miki joined us, it sometimes feels like opening Pandora’s box. He is at times unpredictable and peculiar, while gentle and sweet, and he may have officially earned me the now proud title of becoming a Crazy Cat Lady. Hope I get to justify it soon with rescuing another cat or kitten in need.
This article is a part of Dr. Maja and Miki’s series.
