The Cat Circle

My husband put this question to me after we decided to adopt our cat “Mister Q” as a companion for our other cat "Susie Q" from one of the local cat rescue operations here in Houston:

“We adopted Susie Q to be a companion for an aging Sweetie Blue (not long before her death at age 16) and now we adopt Mister as a companion for Susie.  Each adoptee is younger.  Reason would have it that we have a "Cat Circle".  A constant flow of cats through the house.  Do we ever not have a cat?”

His question was valid, of course.  With each new cat (and never more than two at a time) came acclimation, expenses, and a semi-permanent part time job for our pet sitter every time we decide to take a trip that keeps us away from the Cat Circle overnight or longer.

As anyone that loves a pet knows, it can be expensive.  As they age and we try to keep them in good health and pain free from even the small things that we neglect for our own human health, the money will flow from our wallets like a river.

Don’t misunderstand me, my husband loves the cats as much as I do.  They bring us immense joy and entertainment.  However, as we age and begin to look at longer vacations, spending time at vacation homes and the kind of travel that felines really don’t want to participate in as a rule, do we consider bringing an end to the Cat Circle?

The little furry face that peers at you as you finally walk through door of your family home after being away for two weeks will leave you with no doubts that despite having someone come in to feed them treats and pet them and check on them while you were away, you left them lonely and depressed and scared.

Or maybe you just left them sleeping, eating, and scratching up your furniture depending on your own imagination or level of guilt.

I’ve had a cat or two in my life since 1983.  Maggie begat Razz begat Sweetie begat Andy begat Sammy begat Susie begat Mister begetting a Cat Circle of more than 30 years! A couple of them spent a few years as an only cat kid, but guilt would set in and I would feel the need to provide them with a companion and playmate to ease the guilt that vacations or business trips brought me.

But my husband’s question makes logical sense.  Each addition to the family is younger and it would reason that the younger would outlive the older and then another companion would enter and the Cat Circle would be never ending.

I suppose that one day if we are not here to adopt the next kitty it would end.  Or perhaps the kind soul that would be taking in our cat kids when we leave this world would also get caught in the Cat Circle?