I Am Your Cat...
by Donna Norris for Lelani
Do not think of me as an object to bring you fame in the show ring.
My most prized trophy is a gentle touch from you.
Do not expect from me a new family of babies every four months.
I love my little ones and want them with me so I may teach and play with them for many months as a good mother should.
Do not keep me confined in a cage.
I am a free spirit.
Let me live with you in your home.
Do not think of me as an unknowing, uncaring or an independent being, for I need you.
Accept me as I am, care for me, love me and be my friend I will give you in return:
A soft touch of my paw on your cheek when you are troubled,
A companion when you are lonely,
A clown when you are depressed
A trusting, loving, purring being,
Content to share your happiness and sorrow.
Let me be with you in our small part of this world for He has created you and me.
Do not think of me as a simple creature, for I can see angels you cannot see.
I can feel the vibrations and wonders of the Universe you can not feel. And when the time comes when I will have to leave you, remember, I will always be with you for our spirits are One.
Love me. Cherish me. Care for me.
I am your Cat.
I didn't write this poem- it was written by a former CFA judge and breeder who has now passed on. I wanted to give my friends who may not have had the opportunity, the chance to read it, because it expresses perfectly my approach to breeding and showing. I wish I could meet more show breeders who shared this philosophy with me.