Feline Friend

Dear Puma,

If you could read, I am sure you would have still ignored this. Like you do; indifferent to most things. At least from a human point of view, which I am sure is filled with biases and limited to our narrow perceptions. It has been a little over a year since I saw you for the first time, sitting in a perfect zen master’s pose meditating outside your building. I and a friend of mine instantly had the urge to pet you. While my accompanying human was excited and she did smush you, I stood behind observing you and her. I remember sitting eventually, bringing my hand closer to your chin to offer greetings and to see how you reacted. I know some of you can be extremely particular about the human touch and I respect that. But you were your gentle self I cannot care more self and allowed me to give you a chin rub, head rub, and an occasional stroke on the back. You seemed quite big for your size and I am sorry but you were named ''Fatte Catte'' at that very instant since we did not know your given name anyway. It was only after a few months that your owners had put a polite message outside the building requesting people to not feed you, since you were well fed, dear Puma.

Our interactions were initially limited to the outdoors. I realized most people in our complex knew you maybe because of the aforementioned notice but I wonder how many of them actually took you inside their homes or how many homes did you actually go to by yourself? You somehow seemed to respond well to my keys jingling and me making Pspspspsps sounds. You meow just at the beginning may be to show your approval of recognizing me and thereafter you just stick to purring. Your favorite game is playing dead or I guess it is the state of utmost bliss?! And like most feline friends I have had the chance to meet, you love to sleep and groom yourself.

It must have been in July last year when you had bolted your way inside as soon as I had opened my building’s door and not knowing where to go you followed me to my apartment. It was new territory for you, and I say this with confidence because I have been told that you were never here previously. You rubbed against all the furniture that was within your reach; sat for 30 mins under my bed admiring my room or perhaps inspecting it or just contemplating your and my life?! Like I said, I can not say for sure, I am a humble human being after all. Eventually, you found your spot in our kitchen, the chair seemed to be fulfilling your expectations and henceforth whenever you were/are here, you always find your spot. Although, lately I have noticed you seem to be enjoying chilling on my sofa as well.

Believe me, dear Puma, you have quite a fan following. You are not merely a conversation topic in our apartment but people across continents know you by now! There was a point in time when you had not showed up at our apartment and we did discuss the possibilities of your owners moving out, you being sick, or just away on vacations. Turns out you were indeed away and also that you are not out when the weather is mehhh. Smart Cat, indeed.

And since you are a little more friendly, I enjoy taking pictures of you with me goofing around. If you do see the pictures and process them in a similar way as I do, you will notice you have the same expression which I quite do not know how to describe. It is neither grumpy nor happy or excited nor is it enjoying or being irritated. It is just staring into nothingness with purrfect calmness and radiating confidence that speaks 'I am aware of my existence, I am incredible and that's enough' looks. You know what I mean?

You look playful and naughty when you just roll down on the floor and play with your tail, you have a look of contentment when I rub under your chin, you look annoyed when I overshoot my limit of stroking your back but other times you have a very... Cat-like face. I guess like most cats it comes naturally to you from years of experience of having observed humans but then again I am not your usual sample space. I am convinced nobody has talked to you in Hindi or English previously, yet you seem to understand what I have to say. Or maybe it is not about the language at all. Perhaps our energies vibe. Or perhaps you, like your other sentient beings have already achieved the state of Nirvana or you just simply do not care about anything at all as long as you are not being disturbed.

Cats have always fascinated me. My feed is filled with cute and silly videos of cats, dogs, tigers and cubs, elephants, pandas all alike. But somehow I am in awe of the cat family. I like how solitary and playful they can be at a given instant. Personally, if you ask me I find it inspiring how you are not predictable in your behavior. You might want us to pet you and the next moment you will just go, curl yourself up and sleep. Literally, in this owner-pet relationship, you guys seem to have an upper hand.

I have never had a pet of mine. By pet I mean the animal was not purchased or stayed exclusively with us/me. But growing up I was always surrounded by cats back at home. And all of them, including you, dear Puma, have brought great joy and comfort to me. You are a little lazy or let's say you are a wise cat but regardless of your age and activeness quotient, no matter how young or old your kind gets, from little packets of energy running around the house chasing paper balls aimlessly to just purring and sleeping in a corner is very amusing and therapeutic. There have been days here when I have walked back from work feeling a little low and especially on those days if I did meet with you, I end up feeling okay as soon as I see you making those cute poses and hearing you purr. And now that I know I might not see you or you might not get to go inside the very same house you are used to visiting, I wonder how you will process this information? Huh, our speech spectrum restricts us. Maybe I have to make up an answer for myself, justify it and be content with it?

It is strange that I do not know your owners. In fact, I have never seen them. And even if I did know them, I am sure they would not allow you to come that far to visit me. And if only I could have understood your language, I could have discussed the possibilities of having some sort of an arrangement meeting mid-way or me picking you up and dropping back but it does not seem to be the case. I will pass by someday through this complex and if I see you outside, I will sit and pet you, like I always do.   

May you (and your kind) continue to bring smiles, amusement, and comfort in the lives of people who befriend you. And keep being your silly Zazzy self <3