Our Pets and Our Health!

I had an Ikea clock that kept time in the kitchen. My pets were fascinated with the movement of the hour and minute hands. One day the hands no longer moved past 6:30, and then the hands disappeared altogether. . . .

We all know the benefits of having pets. They reduce depression, high blood pressure, stress and anxiety. They facilitate a social life. According to WebMD, pet walks are a more effective way of meeting people than say. . . . online dating.

Pets offer other advantages.

We won’t need an alarm to get up in the morning. First the whiskers, then the “jump over,” and then, if not a watch or Prada glasses, they will find another valuable to dangle and get us out of bed. They "friend" or "unfriend" many of our friends. They ensure we don't get too attached to nice furnishings, wallpaper or material possessions.

We no longer think of buying an Eero Saarinen womb chair or Lilly Reich/Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Barcelona chair. We no longer wince at the sound of claws on wood or fabric.

They have us trained. We have learned to distinguish between cat sounds—the purrr (I’m happy), ra-owwh (I’m at your door with a gift), RA-OWWHHHH (if you don’t open the door, I will be forced to eat the gift). . . .

To ensure the safety of our pets, they live inside. Indoor pets (apparently) live longer and stay healthier. . . . And the wildlife remain plentiful. A study by the Mammal Society, quoted by a UK animal protection website, estimates that British cats capture nearly 275 million prey per year (approximately 20 percent are birds and majority are rodents).

My two cats live indoors and still find numerous ways to hunt and stalk. Here one is waiting to grab the legs of the next unsuspecting person who comes down the stairs. . . .

They both were adopted from a pet shelter and have adapted to their new lifestyle. Guess I had better sign off and run to the store. We're out of the flavor of the day!

What do your pets do?