Narcissism and The Cat

“The frustrated woman in The New Yorker cartoon who asks the cat on her chair, “Am I talking to myself?” expects a laugh because the obvious answer is, “Yes, you are,” since cats have no interest in what we say to them.  But is this really so?”   -Jeffrey Mousssaieff Masson

 

I  wasn’t planning on writing a blog post today about my cat Grizzabella, but she sort of hijacked my attention!!

Huh Grizzabella?

It started this morning when I was in the middle of my aerobics routine. I was about halfway finished when Grizzabella, who had been sitting in the window above the t.v. decided that sitting in front of the t.v. and blocking my pop sugar workout (I love pop sugar on youtube!) was a far more superior location!!

At first, it made me giggle, she did look cute after all!!  But when I couldn’t see my routine on the t.v., it became a little less cute.  I tried to move her but she meowed at me and made me feel so guilty!

How did I handle it?

I caved to her charms and let her stay for the rest of the workout.

She settled in and was perfectly content sitting there knowing full well that she was interrupting me and making my workout far more difficult!

Then, this afternoon when I came home from the library where I volunteer on Tuesdays; I was greeted with meows, and her sweet furry body rubbing on my leg wanting one of her Temptations treats.  That is kind of our normal routine when I walk in the door;  but as I sat down and got on my computer she was immediately on the table and sitting right where my mouse, blocking my hand from using it!

Oh! and she sat on my phone, another favorite location!!!   Grizzy!!!

I was going to write a post about my rabbit Dasher, but I took her constant in my way pay attention to me attitude as a sign. I guess I better write about her today.

And you know the funny thing about that?  As soon as I started writing about her she jumped off the table and now she is preoccupied with staring at birds outside.  It’s like she knew I was going to write about that little rodent who shares her mama’s affections and she was determined to sabotage my story.

Sorry Dash Man! You will be getting accolades and words of love and wisdom sent your way soon buddy! I caved to your sissy today!!

I checked out a book today from the library called The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats- a journey into the feline heart by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson.  Just briefly browsing through it I had to laugh when I noticed the first chapter is called Narcissism!!  hmmmm…..wonder why that is the first chapter????

Narcissism…let’s see…

Would that include blocking my workout, sitting on my laptop, waking me out of perfect slumber at 2 am this morning for a Temptations treat?  ( Those are her favorites!! )

Yeah, I guess we could call that narcissism…..or we could call that a cat!

Musson says, “cats are supposed to be narcissistic……haughty, egotistical, egocentric, self-centered….self-absorbed, smug…..and aloof.”   He then goes on to say,  “It would be  hard for humans to alter such a fundamental mindset, deeply engraved as it is in the cat’s genes.”

There you see? I guess there is no fighting it.  It’s engraved in the cat’s genes!!!

However, isn’t that kind of what makes the cat completely charming and hilarious? For whatever reason, we love those furry aggravating self-centered little balls of fur.

Maybe it’s because they can look like this?

I’m telling you now when you cuddle up with one of those, there’s no turning back….you’ve gone kitty for life!!

I’m glad I did!  I love my narcissistic sweet feline she’s the best!

Grizzabella Agrees!!     Don’t you Grizz?