I am a very complex kitty. The cat you see modeling a dress is not necessarily the same one that curls up with a patent on a therapy visit. I’m different at home than when I’m at the pet store. To show you the different sides of me, I’ll tell you about ten different times where I behave certain ways. You’ll see I’m not always the cat you would expect!
- At the Cat Writers Conference in Houston in 2018, my human brought me to the keynote session featuring renowned vet Dr. Marty Becker. I sat on the table while he was speaking, wondering why no one was looking at me. They were all looking at him! Finally I got annoyed and started acting out and getting restless, and my human had to take me back to our hotel room. This was not the first, or last time something like this has happened.
- I’ve often told you how I settle in and snuggle with bedridden patients on my therapy cat visits. It’s something I never do at home with my human. Ever. I only do it with patients. In fact, the few times I have curled up next to my human in bed or given her this type of attention at all, she started to get worried there was something wrong with her!
- And in case you are wondering if I really understand what my purpose is with these patients when I am visiting them, here’s a story for you. There was one older man, and when my human put me on the bed with him, he started weeping. A lot. Almost uncontrollably. I was snuggled next to him, making happy paws, and the harder he cried, the harder and more insistently I was making happy paws. I really did want to make him feel better.
- When I see my human has a dress for me to wear, I come running up to her, meowing excitedly! I really do enjoy wearing clothes. I consider modeling and photo sessions with my human part of our bonding time.
- When Binga was around and would photo bomb my modeling sessions, sometimes I would get mad! Sometimes I would get so mad I would walk off the set and wouldn’t come back until my human made her leave.
- That doesn’t mean I didn’t like Binga. Towards the end, when she was very sick, even though she didn’t act like it most of the time, I would lick her a lot on the head. I knew, even if my human didn’t quite realize how badly she was doing.
- I really do walk on a leash like a dog sometimes! I will trot along with my human, and if I stop for any reason and my human gives my leash a little tug, I will start trotting again. Of course, there are also those times when I won’t cooperate and she has to pick me up… but hey, I am a cat, not a dog!
- I will almost literally do anything for treats. Once I figure out what it is my human wants me to do, I will do it if there are treats involved.
- I am way too trusting. I will walk up to any dog, even though I don’t know him. I let little kids mess with my ears and fur and I’ll just sit there and take it. It is up to my human to manage my encounters with strange beings to make sure I am always safe.
- I really do believe that strangers are friends I haven’t met yet. That is not just my human putting words into my mouth on the blog. I love people and enjoy visiting with them. After all, how could anyone not enjoy being adored?
Do any of these surprise you?
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2022 Somali Cat Calendar Starring Summer Samba
See all of Summer’s merch at her her Zazzle Designercat Shop
You are a very special kitty indeed <3
My Big Bad Baby Twinkle would walk on a harness and a leash (a double leash because she pulled out the ONE leash – luckily it was when I was training her in the livingroom). But if people wanted to pet her I would have to hold her in my arms and hold her front legs or else she would HIT them. She was a beautiful cat– even The Lady Who Hated Cats loved her but she was such a baaaad cat!!!! I still miss her very much
I’m glad you were nice to Binga. Torties are floofyheads but they are sweet (My Sweet Cee Cee was a tortie)
You are an angel
You are a well-rounded kittycat, Summer.
You are a very complex and fun kitty, Summer! And we and all of us love to hear all about your encounters with the world:)
You are one of a kind Summer! We are proud to know you.
No, it does not surprise us, Summer. You are very unique!
What we DO know, is that you’re this kind of cat:
A Pretty Cat!!
You’re a very very special cat in a way we love, Summer. Purrs
You adapt to different situations so well. Many cats can’t. I (Iza) might be able to do some of the things around strangers. I do that pretty well. I won’t wear costumes though. You do it ALL!
I think you are just purrfect.
We’ve always known you are a complex kitty, Summer. Your answers about Binga made us all weepy. Those are good and bittersweet memories. XO
You make people cry? Happy tears I hope.
Well maybe the one about running up to be dressed but I don’t understand that stuff. TW would wonder if she was dying if I ever cuddled. MOL!
I’m the same way about bandanas as you are about dresses. I run to momma when I see her getting one.
how interesting to learn these things about you, Summer. we were touched by how you treated Binga when she was not well and MOL’d at how you handled her photobombing :D. #2 surprised us and even #1 …though considering how some of you family like to cause mischief at cat shows, maybe we shouldn’t have been 😀
pip, minnie, hollie, sharpie, ditto, TL
No, we’re not surprised–we knew you were a multi-faceted cat!
Mee ISS irprized you do not snuggell an cuddle with yore LadyMeow….mee thott you wuud do that bee-cause you do with THE payshuntss. Furry interestin….
Mee mew you liked to dress upss an go fore walkss on leed. Mee wishses mee was a bit more like you Summer butt mee iss set inn mee wayss. An LadyMeow said shee loves just as mee iss…..
Thanx bee to Sky Cat!
***purrsss*** BellaDharma
#1 cracked me up- you are like a toddler wanting attention 🙂 I love that you run to your human to try on a dress. You are so unique and wonderful. XO
I love this, Summer! #6 brought a lump to my throat. I lost my childhood cat Patch to a brain tumor way back in 1991. He, like you, enjoyed going out on a leash, and he became friends with our neighbor kitty at the time, Tommy. I still remember Tommy sniffing and licking Patch towards the end. He knew and that was his way of saying goodbye.
I don’t think I was surprised, but I always get a kick out of your catly moments. You are so sweet and agreeable almost all the time.
#1 made me laugh, but why shouldn’t you act up sometimes. #3 is really sweet and caring of you.
We’re not surprised at all. You did forget to mention that you’re an expert presenter. Our mom said in Houston you sat there like you owned the room during your presentation and meowed at just the precise times!
No 1 surprised me. But I can understand it. You were
placed in front of a crowd and they all ignored you.
You were thinking…”Hey, look, I’m here!” It was their loss.
All of us at the blog think you’re wonderful!
#4 surprises me a bit – I thought you just tolerated the clothes.
About #2, Summer you have masterfully learned how to separate your professional life with your personal life <3
I love all of those examples of why you are a very unique cat! Especially that you are kind to people who need your love and that you worried about and loved Binga – even though she made you mad sometimes at the photo shoots. I have to say though that I’m sorry you don’t snuggle with your human.
My girls snuggle with me and I am very happy when they do. I would miss it if they didn’t.
Just that BInga could make you mad when she walked in. Your face actually told that story every time. That’s what made us all laugh and hope Binga would do it again.
Nope, didn’t surprise us either sweet Summer, you are a very special gal.
Just more proof of your awesomeness, gorgeous Summer, but of course, we thought #1 was funny, silly girl!…We love how you try to comfort those who aren’t well; we’re sure Binga was very appreciative of your concern and care, sweetie…XO…J, Halle, Sukki
What wonderful things to know about you, Summer. Thank you for sharing.
Have a purrfect day and rest of the week. My best to your mom. ♥
Summer, #5 made me giggle, then #6 was so touching.
I enjoyed reading more about you and you are a complex kitty indeed!
Summer, you are just a super cat with tons of personality.
Oh, Summer…#1!
we aren’t surprised at all – you are awesome Summer
number 2 is a surprise…
Wow! Mom says cats are very complex and unique individuals, such as you Summer. We really enjoyed reading this post. Mom even teared a little when you mentioned Binga. Mom was surprised by #2. Thank you for sharing Summer. Purrs
None of that surprises us, Summer. You are a very interesting cat with lots of purrsonality.
Those were very fun to read, Summer! We really enjoyed this post! It told us that you are an extraordinary girl, but we knew that already. But it also told us that you can be a bit of a diva sometimes, which was fun to learn!
Purrs,
Tama and Genji
Tylan is like you in that he’s never met a stranger. He LOVES people – all people. Once, I had him at the vet, and there was a kid there. He’d not been around kids before, so I didn’t know how he would do, but he was perfectly fine! The kid was waving his arms around and stuff like kids do, and it didn’t bother him a bit. It’s too bad he can’t be a therapy cat. He’d really love to be.
You are a free spirit Summer
You’re very complex, Summer! But definitely a love bug.