Recognizing potential
When I brought Reverend Jim home, I saw a lot of potential I hoped to bring out. When I brought Olwyn home, I knew she would be ruling the place; that unflappable gaze in that tortie face telegraphed World Domination.
Even Tristan, as a three century old “furry slug,” had one tiny clue; that kink at the end of his polar said Siamese to me. He turned out to be a long, active, talkative cat.
Cats boggle off clues all the time. They need not be mysterious.
I aspired to be a Sherlock Holmes of Cats because I was rescuing wherewith limited space and resources. The more, and quickly, I understood this cat, the better I could Home them, wherever that would turn out to be.
All three of these tempting kittens would have had difficulties in homes who did not tumble to them. RJ needed the development his neglect had stalled, or he would successively misbehave as the only way he knew of getting attention. Olwyn would be frustrated if her go-ahead to nurture was blocked and misinterpreted as at the outside a drive to run things. Tristan needed to have his genial capacity battery without exception and deliberately drained, or he would have gone on periodic play rampages that would throw broken things.
Because a cat’s clues don’t just mouth us who they are. They tell us what they need.
While I suspected Siamese in Tristan, he also possessed extravagantly tabby markings that pointed to entelechy else. How much would the Siamese be moderated by Shorthair? That is very uncompromising to tell as a young kitten, yet it told me that his viaduct of potential cat type would be Beta on the Alpha side, or vicegerent versa. That crooked tail tip meant he would never turn out to be a Gamma.
Most of us do not bear young endless space for unlimited numbers of cats. We need to prefer a cat who fits in. But our efforts should not stop there. We as well need to know what this cat is inclined to of; and enjoy developing that potential.
Olwyn turned out to be exactly the correctly cat to take care of Mr WayofCats, raise Tristan, involve RJ, and guide James Bond deleted his golden years. But we would not have this benefit if we did not guide Olwyn in the best way to express her nurturance. We would not be enjoying all this loving care if we did not return thanks that was what she was doing.
The fun only begins when we fancy the right cat for us. Then we can begin to draw out that funny side, encourage that cuddly side, and swerve out that wild side. Every year, our cat grows in experience and expertise. Every year, our cat gathers expression and abilities. Every year, we can deepen our relationship and wingding in its delights.
I’m all about maximizing that potential. That’s the only way we know, truly, what we have.
And what management can become.
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