Take a Clue from the Cat

Posted on August 22, 2024 by Pamela Knudsen

Summertime is vacation time! Many folks travel, but I needed time away from the day job to pursue my passions. I took a “staycation” this week to do all those things I’ve been only able to dabble in: build a new website; send queries to media outlets for a couple essays I’d love to see published; and work on a writing project.

My recent essay about the negative impacts of fireworks shows on animals published in Laguna Beach Independent

By Monday, the reality of being free from the corporate grind kicked in. I felt giddy and light and ready to attack my tasks. It’s now Thursday, and I’ve been trying to focus on these “must do” tasks ever since, yet only feel scattered and unmotivated. Website building became fraught with technical difficulties. I would stare at the list of potential outlets for my essays with no motivation to make any submissions. I had no inspiration to write.

My attention had been diverted to other activities. With the sun in full swing after a summer of foggy weather, I’ve been gardening and running around the yard with Samantha Jo playing “chase-the-ball.” I attended a concert at a fabulous outdoor venue, the Festival of Arts. I did lunch at The Tea House on Los Rios. And for a little escapism, I watched the latest season of Emily in Paris.

Although I enjoyed these engaging happenings, my lack of commitment to my intended tasks spurred frustration. I was free from the corporate grind, yet I became a prisoner of self-imposed demands. I wanted to enjoy the rest of my time off frustration-free, but all I could think about was what I was not getting done.

This morning I watched as Samantha curled up in her new favorite place to relax, a carved wooden bowl. Cats know how to unwind—they shamelessly own it. Samantha stretched and let out a soft “mew.” I wanted to feel that carefree.

I let go of the list.

Things will eventually get done.

Mama! It’s happy meowr!

How the Cat Saved the Cottage

Posted on March 3, 2024 by Pamela Knudsen

Living with my cat in a 101-year-old cottage by the sea is like something from a fairy tale. Sometimes I miss my spacious condo in the canyon that I shared with many of my feline family members, but for the past almost six years, this tiny vintage abode has been, and still is, enchanting.

But some days, the wear and tear of its parts can dispel the magic. Thank goodness for Samantha Jo’s enchanting power of discernment.

Samantha typically spends her evenings sitting on the large bedroom window sill spying on the neighbors or playing our games of “tickle-tickle you’re a pickle” and “tag-you’re-it” after which she dozes off in my plush executive office chair.

A few weeks ago, Samantha spent several evenings going back and forth between the the toilet enclave of the bathroom, which faces the water heater closet, and the kitchen cupboards located opposite the water heater closet. Samantha would sit and stare at the door of the water heater closet then after a spell she’d go into the kitchen and paw at the baseboard underneath the cupboards.

Her back is to the cupboards under which the water leaked.

I thought she was chasing bugs—that is until a week after this behavior a slight musty odor started wafting from the toilet area, and about the same time I noticed the paint on a wall beam close to the baseboard by the water heater closet was bubbled. I touched it to feel dampness. Oh no… what was leaking? I opened the closet door but nothing seemed amiss, yet the musty smell was stronger and the water heater was making dripping sounds. During this investigation, Samantha was crouched by the kitchen cupboard baseboard again. I knelt down beside her and felt the hardwood floor underneath the cupboard. The narrow space where the floor met the baseboard was damp the length of the cupboard. I suspected a water heater leak.

Plumber’s Assistant

The plumber came out the next day to replace the old water heater that developed a leak. I didn’t see origin of the leak the day before, but by the time Randy the plumber arrived, the leak had become obvious as it percolated from a pipe at the top of the water heater. Randy said that if the leak went on much longer, the water damage would have been really bad and the situation would have been dangerous. If only I’d taken heed to Samantha’s obsessions with the water heater closet door and kitchen cupboard sooner.

Note to self: when a cat changes their routine, something’s up.

Within a couple days of the water heater replacement, I managed to dry out the waterlogged areas with a space heater and mini-sized dehumidifiers, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Enchantment ensues once again. Samantha is back to spying on the neighbors and chasing me around, whacking my ankles—a feline version of tag-you’re-it!

Samantha Saturday

Posted on August 19, 2023 by Pamela Knudsen

Conversations with the cat

I’m in the kitchen making coffee and instinctually turn around as though being beckoned. Samantha is sitting on the countertop staring at me. “Good morning, Samantha Jo.”

“Reeow,” Samantha says, still staring. She gently lifts her left paw, not quiet all the way off the countertop then puts it back down into a ballet stance—third position. We continue talking to each other. I tell her my plans for the day, she responds with chirps and “rrreeeows”.

Being only about five feet away from my next-door neighbors and with all of us having windows wide open now in the midst of summer, I wonder what they think, hearing my daily chats with my cat. One who didn’t know better would think I was talking to a human child. “I wonder if they think I’m a little crazy,” I say to Samantha, giggling. But don’t we all talk to our cats, dogs, whatever our species of pet may be?