How do you tell someone you have three cats without sounding like a lonely spinster?
These days, being a cat person is not trendy. Sure, funny cat videos may be a popular search on YouTube, but when it comes down to owning the fuzzy creatures, being a cat lady is a “faux-paw” (forgive me).
Despite my feline preference, I am doing my best to become the chick who dogs instantly love. I mean, guys love girls that love dogs — and the same does not apply to cat ladies like myself.
Let’s set this straight — I like dogs. I even love some dogs! Rest in peace, Walli. But recently I’m making an extra effort to make dog-loving a part of my persona. I want to be exceptional in my admiration of the canine.
While on my journey to becoming a dog-person, I stumbled across a unique opportunity. This semester, I went in search of a casual job to bring in some extra dollars for my weekend drinking habits. What did I find? The classified was titled “dog-loving student available once a day to play with our darling puppy.”
Most people would swoon. Instead, I hesitated. Was I fit to even walk a dog? Somehow in my 22 years of existence I had become incredibly intimidated by them. Though this may have something to do with my aggressive black lab, Sadie, biting my brother’s ear when he was still in diapers, I like to think it has more to do with my own experiences and reservations.
Regardless, I’ve encountered a number of bumps in the road to dog-loving. For example, dogs have a habit of barking as if you’re going to steal a baby or precious jewels — I promise, little pup, I have no foul intentions. I simply want to enter my friend’s home without being immediately subjected to loud noises.
This is never a problem when you have a cat — or three. They might be sassy and scratch once in a while, but you can rest assured they will not verbally assault you the moment a squirrel scampers by the window.
Cats can be prickly, but maybe that’s why I like them. Unlike dogs, cats do not require constant attention and love. My cats saunter around the house as if they pay the mortgage. They are independent and self-sufficient. I’m inclined to think cats are actually incredible thinkers, pondering the meaning of life while they ignore you and stare out the window.
Perhaps I prefer cats to dogs because I identify with them more — I’ll leave that for my friends and family to decide.
Ultimately, despite my reservations, I responded to that classified last week and agreed to walk a beautiful grey lab puppy named Bella once a day. Though I may always be a cat lady, I will continue to try and find my inner balance in the historical dichotomy that is cat versus dog.
Allison’s column runs biweekly Thursdays. She can be reached at a.lank@cavalierdaily.com.
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