Nine Lives

I wonder how cats live that long so much that they are called to have nine lives. I wonder if it’s a myth or just a figure of speech about how they live – as I’ve said with nine lives. I wonder how they end up jumping heights up and down or reaching the roofs of buildings. Perhaps that’s why they are called witches’ pets. I wonder if they know how to count that if they had been reborn eight times, they know the ninth is their last.

One of my aunts has this love for pets so much I think she has nine cats. She’s not a witch but the most caring tita I’ve seen. I also have a friend who adopts stray cats nearing her unit. She has constantly fed them with expensive cat food. Then there’s a Siamese cat named Kobe who likes to chase rats like the ones in Tom and Jerry.

In mental health, there are many kinds of therapies. A fellow writer and person with disability I met recently has a dog for therapy. He had encountered an accident before and he has this cute dog as his life-long companion and therapy for neurologic cases. He often wears this crown on his head while playing catch the ball with his dog. I am particularly in awe of dogs, one white dog we used to have named Cloud is now an angel. Quite sad, actually!

Dogs are man’s best friend or even cats, they’re good companions. Even parrots can make alluring sounds with every chirping. Even the Little Prince met a tamed fox. Even Wendy has Thing (Thing T. Thing) a hand or finger pet or puppet? Whatever that thing is! Even well-loved Lassie (if ever your age is aware of it) is a pet dog.

The love for animals is human nature, especially that man is an animal himself or herself – a mammal at that. However, he or she is capable of values, freedom and choices as expressed by scientific evidence on the theory of evolution.

So if you want a good therapy, get a dog or a cat but frankly, not a wild one. One that is tamed or even a gold fish or Piranha at that. Just don’t let it bite you. For therapy, choose an animal but let it not bite you. Therapy makes life easier and not harder!

In case you need stress relievers, do it with a pet. Find a purpose to your life, whether it be a dog or cat waiting for you at the door when you arrive. If not, get a stress ball or a stuffed toy.

Hugs, everyone! May you find a flicker of hope despite the dark.