Which animal would you compare yourself to and why?

I guess cats. If I am to make any comparison then cats. For starters I can sleep like cats sleep. For long, long periods. I am a real stickler for routine the way cats are. I like to think I go where I am needed, like cats. The cats I have had the joy of minding have made some things clear. They like being fed, petted, their place in the house. They will never, however, be owned. They have a higher agenda. Maybe a Cat God.

They can be comfortable with more than one home if the higher agenda dictates. Especially if the other home has a need for them. A previous beautiful white cat called Oscar with a splash of ginger forehead hair, left me for another household. Oscar’s flitting three floors up in the tenement we were living in was precipitated with a Christmas dinner and presents. But boy did Oscar go to a cracking new home. They were in their early eighties and had no visiting grandchildren. They felt too old to take on a pet or certainly to go through the procedure. Oscar, however, they knew from his visits they could care for him. It gave them a new lease of life. I believe Oscar knew.

My current tuxedo cat Axel was a rescue cat. Though I think I had to concede he rescued me. Once I did, he was more affectionate and near. When we brought him home, he jumped out the bathroom window. Turns out he started spending most of his time with Brian, the next-door neighbour. Not again, I thought. Brian was a man of mystery and, sadly, going by his funeral, had led a very isolated life. I changed my mind and was so glad Axel had gone to Brian’s. He must have needed him. I believe Axel knew.

Since then Axel has led a charmed life with us. He is demanding, selfish, vocal, noisy, makes every seat in the living room hairy. In some of these qualities I can compare myself! The bed, our bed, can be a fight for territory. He wakes us up whenever he feels like it. But when needed, Axel is so very loyal. When my brother died Axel stuck to me like glue. When my husband got bad news about his latest cancer scan results, Axel laid over his feet.

I guess I am like that.  Totally self absorbed. Yet good for emergencies! I would not deeply compare myself to any animal. What’s more important for me is when I compare who I am without an animal to care for and who I am when I have one to guard. I prefer the latter. When I am trying to be the steward Our Creator God asks me to be, I can feel true joy.

The patron saint of joy, St. Philip Neri knew all of this of course. St Phillip knew pride and melancholy blocks joy. He absolutely loved cats and he saw them as good teachers for us not to take ourselves too seriously. St Phillip Neri and his joyous relationship with cats and an epic poem written about this happy saint and his cat can be read in this beautiful blog .

Patron Saint of Joy – St Phillip Neri (1515–1595)