Engaging the Cat

There was a commotion in the trees and when I looked up I saw a squirrel sprinting through the branches with a bird hot on his trail. The dogs watched this little drama with me, mildly curious at all the chattering and protesting but more interested in the cat sitting and washing its paws just outside the fence. In their eyes, the enemy was at the gate - squirrels and birds were were out of reach but the tabby was just a few seductive feet away. The more they fussed, the less attention he paid them, an altogether unacceptable situation from their point of view. Given the choice of detaching from the cat or creating a riot, the dogs would instinctively choose the riot and sacrifice their peace of mind for the chase and the opportunity to interfere. It goes without saying that for the dogs, this would be for the cat's own good.

He can find his own way without your help, I tell them sternly and they reluctantly follow me inside. By the time I leave for work, the tabby has wandered off across the street where I see him sleeping on the neighbor's lawn, unaware or indifferent to the chaos he has left behind. It strikes me that I know people just like this - pot stirrers who take advantage of situations ( or failing that, create them ) just to offset a sense of boredom or worse, those who can only feel good about themselves by nitpicking at someone else. We are a strange species indeed.

Tend to your own self, my grandmother used to say, And it'll keep you busy enough.

We are a collection of fixers, rarely looking inward to make much needed repairs when there is so much to be done to and for others. We offer advice without being asked, we judge without a clue,
we complain when others don't have the good sense to listen and follow our wisdom. We interfere when we should detach and turn our backs when we are needed most.

Engage the cat if you must. But remember he's wiser and will likely not engage back - you'll end up out of breath and frustrated while he sleeps on someone else's lawn.