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      Many a contented cat, happy in your presence, will roll over and lie on its back, belly-up. Sometimes it will even allow you to stroke its soft, furry underside, although should you touch a tickly spot, beware! For the cat to lie on its back in such a way is a sign of trust and friendliness. It is a special greeting, reserved for a select few.

      We can follow the cat’s example and make a special effort when meeting friends. Show a warmth and genuine pleasure at seeing them, rather than giving just a casual ‘Hiya’. Make it apparent it is good to see them. Smile, show enthusiasm, radiate warmth, and by making the effort, your presence and relations with those around you will often become richer and more meaningful.

The Importance of Giving

      ‘Cats can be very funny, and have the oddest ways of showing they’re glad to see you. Rudimace always peed in our shoes.’

       W. H. AUDEN

      For a cat to present you with its prey is an honour. Whether this is laying a dead mouse on your doorstep or bringing it indoors, it’s a cat’s way of showing love, care and trust. It is akin to a mother cat sharing food with her kittens, and your cat, with its present, wants to show you its love and that you won’t starve or go without.

      Admittedly, a dead mouse is a present you may not necessarily appreciate, but present-giving is a sign that you care about and are keen to please another. And when the present is unexpected and well thought out, it will often mean that much more. Just like a cat, give an occasional present to those who are important and special to you – only choose something more appropriate!

Discover

      ‘Watch a cat when it enters a room for the first time. It searches and smells about, it is not quiet for a moment, it trusts nothing until it has examined and made acquaintance with everything.’

       JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU

      Whenever anything new is introduced to the home, the cat invariably wants to find out more. It looks, it watches, it sniffs. If it is food and shopping bags, the cat will be quick to detect any wafts of fresh fish or other cat delicacy. Or if it is soft furnishings, again the cat will be keen to investigate and possibly view it as a place to nestle, sleep or possibly scratch. Even a new washing machine could come in for a thorough sniffing before the cat decides that washing machines are not really a cat thing.

      By noticing and investigating, the cat learns, discovers and sometimes benefits. And so it is with us. Rather than close our minds to anything new that comes along, we should at least try to find out more. It’s by being curious, by asking, by taking a look and having an open mind that we learn, grow and ultimately make more of ourselves.

      Like a cat, enjoy the thrill of discovery.

Taking Care

      ‘It is in the nature of cats to do a certain amount of unescorted roaming.’

       ADLAI E. STEVENSON

      Often, when strolling across a garden, the cat will stop and chew a few blades of grass. And although grass may seem a curious choice for a cat and carnivore, it is the cat’s way of getting folic acid, an important vitamin for its digestion.

      We should follow the cat’s example and make sure we eat and seek out food that is good for us. Fruit and vegetables, fibre, grains and pulses can all help keep our system in good order, and if we are to live and enjoy the good life like the cat, looking after ourselves and watching what we eat is a key and sensible priority.

Keeping Your Head Down

      ‘The cat seldom interferes with other people’s rights. His intelligence keeps him from doing many of the fool things that complicate life.’

       CARL VAN VECHTEN

      When someone raises their voice, many a cat will turn tail and move to another area. And if the cat cannot go to another room, it could well crouch down, keep still and hope it will go unnoticed.

      Cats have a great dislike of tension and do their best to avoid hostile and threatening situations. Loud voices or shouting, in particular, make many wary. And this is a lesson we too can learn from. If we detect that someone is about to lose their temper or a situation is becoming fraught, we can often, if possible and practical, save ourselves from heated exchanges and allow the situation to cool down by getting out of the way and keeping a low profile.

      At times it can be politic to ‘keep your head down’.

Letting Off Steam

      ‘A kitten is chiefly remarkable for rushing about like mad at nothing whatever, and generally stopping before it gets there.’

       AGNES REPPLIER

      One curious behaviour of many a cat is to suddenly go for a mad dash around the room, first hurtling in one direction, then in another, before finally coming to a halt and returning to its more normal and placid state.

      A reason cats do this is to help them release pent-up energy, particularly if they’ve been inactive for any length of time. In our own lives, there can be days when we don’t get much physical activity and our energy levels build up, sometimes causing restlessness and problems getting to sleep. Like cats, we too need to give ourselves the chance to release some of our excess energy. Going for a walk, exercising or carrying out any physical activity that requires a bit of exertion can often leave you feeling more relaxed and less stressed.

      Like a cat, when you have too much energy, it can be helpful to let off steam.

Sleep

      ‘You cannot look at a sleeping cat and feel tense.’

       JANE PAULEY

      Each day a cat will spend about twelve to sixteen hours in blissful slumber. While asleep, the cat not only rests, but also builds up energy, ready for the rigours ahead.

      Although our own sleep needs are different, like the cat we must not forget the value of sleep. Sleep allows us to unwind, assimilate thoughts and digest happenings, and prepares us mentally and physically for the day ahead. It’s essential to our well-being, and yet with the demands of modern-day life it can be tempting to cut back on sleep and keep long hours. Depriving ourselves of the rest our bodies need, however, can start to have a debilitating effect. Like a cat, we need to recognise the importance of sleep and how it not only helps our general health and mood, but also allows us to be more alert, productive and energised.

      Do not ignore the value of sleep – something a cat knows all too well.

Buying Time

      ‘Intelligence

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