Ever since I brought home my new kitten, I’ve spent a lot of time talking about her and posting pictures of her all over social media. I’ve gotten plenty of nice compliments and some good advice, but the biggest criticism I’ve received is that I’m too “obsessed” with her. It used to bother me, but now I just respond with, “Well, duh. You would be too if you had the best cat in the world!”
It started when I first got my kitten and never wanted to put her down. I took her with me everywhere in her comfy cat carrier. Friends and family members said I should start leaving my cat home alone more often or she would develop separation anxiety. They told me I should leave her with someone once in a while to socialize her, or that I should leave her in another room so she could get used to me being away and become more independent.
When I think back on those times, I cringe. I was only doing it because people around me were telling me I was too attached and that my kitten needed space to grow. I wasn’t leaving her alone because I thought it was best, or because I enjoyed hearing her lonely meows from the other room, or even to get a few moments to myself. Now I’ve learned to ignore that advice and give my cat all the love and attention she deserves.
I still get lots of criticism on the internet. People told me that I was in the honeymoon phase and that I would eventually grown out of being so attached to my cat. People have un-followed me on social media to escape the barrage of cat posts and pictures of my darling fur baby. People have questioned my cat parenting methods at every turn. I don’t listen to people as much any more, and I’ve stopped apologizing for being the cat parent that I am.
I’m not sorry for being attached or for wanting my cat to be attached to me. As she has grown from kitten-hood, she’s become my best friend, my confidant, and my cuddle buddy whenever I need her. She’s always there for me when I want her to be, and to provide her with anything less than the same unconditional love and affection she’s shown me would be a disservice.
So you can go ahead and block me on Facebook or Twitter, you can send nasty comments my way about my cat parenting, or you can hold me up as an example of everything that’s wrong with cat owners. I refused to apologize any more for caring too much about my cat. As long as she knows I’m always there for her, I’ll know that nothing that anyone else says matters. I’m obsessed with my cat, and I’m proud of it.
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