From our weekly issue dated July 2, 2008

If there is one virtue that cats teach us well-trained human care-takers, that virtue would be patience. Because cats do what they want, when they want, no matter what. That’s why some of them are injured or killed while crossing streets. They will not be hurried.

In their haughtiness, cats refuse to demonstrate that they might need to increase their gait. For example, when we want Bubba and Maui to enter the garage for the evening, it can be enough to make one (human) gnash his teeth. Usually, Bubba is willing to come in, and many times he’s already lurking in the garage waiting for his nightly cat treats.

And usually, Maui needs to be called until she deigns to show up. But often it’s well past darkness when she seems ready to enter the garage. By then I’ve closed the door. The scene goes something like this:

Bubba is in, and I open the door so Maui can enter.

Maui sits about 10 feet away and stares at me as though I have two heads.

I continue calling her (nicely) and rattle the bag of cat treats to entice her.

Bubba runs out the open door.

My voice becomes a bit strained as I call him and his mother (still nicely) to please come in.

Bubba runs under the deck where I can’t see him or reach him.

His mother moves a few feet closer to me, then stops and starts taking a bath, ignoring my pleas (voice becoming more strained).

Bubba emerges from under the deck and decides to come back into the garage, as long as he gets some more cat goodies.

Maui decides she has to check something at the far end of the deck and saunters off.

I close the door and go back in the house.

Later, Maui appears outside the dining room door meowing loudly that she now wants to enter the garage.

I go out and open the door; Bubba runs out again; Maui teases me by stopping and starting her entrance at least four times.

Bubba comes in, as I desperately work to keep Maui from escaping.

Finally they’re both safely in for the night. I grudgingly give them their feline treats, and go into the house to rest my voice and take some deep breaths.

As the saying goes, “Lord, give me patience. But I want it now!”