tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6394593369099711178.post3076428110125930923..comments2024-03-18T03:18:23.620-04:00Comments on Memoirs for my children: My cat phobiaruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15293058709021665140noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6394593369099711178.post-29773576044032822013-10-02T15:32:52.843-04:002013-10-02T15:32:52.843-04:00Thank you again for another perfect comment.
Blac...Thank you again for another perfect comment.<br /><br />Black cats are the absolute worst, followed by gray and then gray stripes. Then comes white, which is the color of the cat that stalked me at the Bible study. I remembered later that my first experience with that cat was when we were sitting in the living room studying the Bible. It was a white room: white carpet, white furniture, white draperies. I was sitting on the end of the white sofa, and at one point I looked over, and there was a cat's head, which had literally OOZED up the arm of the sofa. I was so shocked and surprised, I screamed, and the study came to a screeching halt. This is when they put the cat away, but did not contain it.<br /><br />So yes, in order of terror: black, solid gray, striped gray, white, and then (somehow) calico cats and orange cats are not quite as terrifying (in that order, orange being the least malevolent), although I would never want one to touch me. I do not think a calico or an orange cat has ever been in one of my nightmares.<br /><br />It is good that I have dogs, but many cats are larger than my little dogs. Once, tiny little Piper ran across the street to challenge a cat in our old neighborhood. The huge gray thing arched its back and met his challenge with a hiss. I ran screaming into the house, and my daughter Shannon had to run out with a broom and save the dog.<br /><br />One of the things that haunts me about cats is that (I think--I'm not sure if it was in real life or in a dream) I have a memory of abandoning one of my children as a baby in his/her carseat on the driveway when a cat appeared. I just left the baby and ran from the cat. I hope this was only a dream, but even so, what terrible, selfish impulses I have to abandon my child to my worst fear. I gave myself a good talking to after that, and determined that if it were ever to happen again, I must put the child's safety before my own. But what is WRONG with me that this would not be my natural instinct?<br /><br />Fortunately, all of my kids have survived to adulthood.ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293058709021665140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6394593369099711178.post-5768265666423775172013-09-29T11:12:48.470-04:002013-09-29T11:12:48.470-04:00I had a similar but less severe experience with ba...I had a similar but less severe experience with babysitting and a cat. My fear of cats is less intense than yours, which is fortunate since there are currently nine stray cats living on our street. There were twice that many a few months ago. Our neighbor feeds and waters them. She sits right in the grass with them and they climb all over her. I won't go on with that story because I don't want to upset you. The point is just that those cats are not leaving the street anytime soon. <br /><br />My babysitting job was for a family I sat for frequently. I usually went over in the afternoon, though, and this particular time, I was staying on later. I think they must have let the cat out during the day but told me to let it in when it got dark. After I put the kids to bed, the cat appeared in the family room where I was sitting. It was a black cat with an evil look in its eyes. I am sure it could tell that I could not tolerate its presence in the room with me. It was so accusing! You are right that dogs can not despise a person like cats can. <br /><br /> I, like you, don't really remember what I did to get it out of the room. All I know is that I got it to back out of the room and then I shut the door on it. I remember the yowling and the paw swipe under the door, too! BUT, it never did touch me so that is not as traumatizing as your story. <br /><br /> It is good that you have a dog. As long as the dog is with you, I imagine cats will stay away. And as much as I would like it if you lived in my neighborhood, it is actually a good thing that you are hundreds of miles away from my neighbor's Den of Stray Cats!Hope T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07861626818618433758noreply@blogger.com