A Cat Psychology Experiment

“For taking and for giving
and for playing the game,
For praying for my future
in the days that remain…
Oh lord,
For that I hold you.

For crying out loud,
You know I love you.
For crying out loud,
You know I love you.
For crying out loud,
You know I love you.”

--Jim Steinman and Meatloaf from “For Crying Out Loud” from the album Bat Out Of Hell, 1977.

I can imagine if he could sing, Dylan would cut loose to Pam on the above lyrics from Meatloaf. He truly has bonded with her.

That noted: I have to laugh at poor old Dylan.

Pam left for an overnight trip and I was voted caretaker of the cats—Cattaker I suppose. Foggy hides upstairs per her usual self. Guinness hung out with me for the most part. Dylan, well poor old Dylan was lonely. I thought I would make an attempt to bond with him.

If one pets Dylan’s head and stops, he usually meows and bats the person on the leg as if to say “Keep going, you are not finished.” I scratched his head and he turned away from me.

Usually if one scratches under his chin, Dylan purrs and cranes his neck. With his back turned, I scratched his chin, he started to purr, and then looked back to see it was me and stopped purring and went upstairs.

I discovered him lying on a pile of clothes that I had not brought downstairs. (Sorry, I am a bit of slob in this area when Pam’s not home). I then took the pile and separated it—my clothes and Pam’s clothes.

Dylan then went to my pile, sniffed, walked over to the other pile, sniffed, and proceeded to lie down on Pam’s clothes.

He then closed his eyes and fell asleep—I touched his throat as he slept, and found him purring.

Many folks do not think that an animal will choose among the people in its milieu, but the animals frankly do.

Dylan is more at ease with Pam and more “used” to her. I feed him the special food he likes, but I also am the one who gives him pills. I do not honestly believe that matters much though.

Dylan has formed a tight bond with Pam, as tight as Guinness has formed with me. He follows Pam wherever she goes and looks for her when she is not here. I am glad for him and for her. She wanted a quiet cat that needed to be needed. He wanted a stable person that had a sixth sense about his personality. Pam understands cats better than anyone, and she has a gentle nature about them. I am not jealous or particularly disappointed.

Dylan discovered what I have always known—Pam is a loving and caring person who is very special to all those around her.