There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.
- Albert Schweitzer -
If you've followed my posts for long enough, and actually read them, you'll know I'm a cat person and that I've had feline friends family members for many years. They bring me great joy and happiness on a daily basis and, whilst it hurts me to my core when I lose them, I can't imagine my life without my cat family. I know they can't talk to me like a human can, but that's the point I suppose, they are not human and are not subject to the frailties of humanity. They are simple, and complex in their own way, and are truthful, loving and loyal. Mine are to me anyway.
I've had Cleo since 2011 when I rescued her from certain death at the hands of her human tormenters; she was only a few weeks old and fit in the palm of my hand. She was frail but so cute and I fell for her in about twenty seconds flat. Since then we have been almost inseparable and much of my love, time and energy goes into her.
Cleo is, there's no other way to put this, a sleeper.
All cats are of course, but Cleo take it to a new level. If there was an award for the best sleeper ever, she would win it without doubt. She sleeps on my bed, the entire night through, wakes up, then wakes me up, for breakfast and a cuddle then promptly goes to sleep again. At 16:00 she has her special biscuits (cat vitamins) and at 17:00 it's dinner time. From there it's back too sleep until bed time then it's...well, it's bed time and she sleeps through the night.
I don't mind to be honest, as there's not much more relaxing a thing than having a cat snuggled in one's lap purring and sleeping; it's one the highlights of my day.
We play a little now and then of course, 
Cleo doesn't need to earn her keep, just having her in my life is all I want, however in those moments between morning, lunch time, afternoon, evening and night time sleeps, and in between the playing we do, she helps me with some of the household chores.
Ok, I'll be honest, having her help me with a few tasks around the house is just another excuse for me to give her cuddles, but that doesn't negate the value of her help. But what does she do?
It's simple really, I pick her up, cuddle her close and wander about the house doing whatever it is I needed to do, and is possible with her in my arms. I take her little paw in my hand and together we perform the task and then I thank her for her invaluable assistance.
Together we've flicked the little switch on the kettle, turned the heater or air conditioner on and off, switched lights on and off, pressed buttons on the TV remote and microwave, and when I secure the house perimeter at night, lock it all down, she comes along as well. She's a very good helper and she enjoys it, based on her purring.
I know this may all sound rather dumb to some people and I also know I don't care if it does. I have said in the past that I like my cats more than most people and I stick to it.
My cats have never let me down, never lied to or cheated me and neither do they try to take advantage of me for their own gain. I don't have to mind what I say to them, they don't judge me what I say or do and yet provide comfort, care and happiness to me. That's something to value right? Sure, her help, around the house might be cursory at best, but the way she helps my life and helps make me happy is so valuable; it priceless to be honest.
What's your per situation? Do you have a sleepy helper cat or dog? Does a favoured pet provide you comfort and happiness as mine do me? Feel free to tell me about it in the comments below.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised so be humble and kind
Any images in this post are my own
