animal people vs people who like animals...

4/2/2014

​Sometimes the difference between real animal-people, those who naturally have a connection, and those who just like animals, is very obvious. 

I have often been told over the years that animals are nice to me that are never nice to anyone, and it always surprises me as I would have never thought these particular animals were unfriendly. In the veterinary hospitals where I worked, I was always the one that got sick animals to eat when no one else could. Perhaps it is because they sense something in those of us who genuinely care and understand. 

Tonight this revelation made me smile yet again as I sat with my body half way in a carrier petting the girl that I had just trapped a week ago. She has been through hell the last few months living on the street and in a crazy situation for a few days before I got her back from her spay. Last night I took her to my neighbors house and set her up in a big crate with a bed and lots of food. She was very stressed and so I wanted her to have a quiet and calm place to rest for a few days while I figured out what to do with her. My apartment is anything but calm with a crazy kitten running around.

I was not sure what I would be dealing with when I visited tonight and was not surprised when she hissed and growled at me when I first opened the cage door. Knowing that food is always a good offer of friendship, and that she would remember that I had been feeding her for a few weeks before she was tricked into the trap, I made a tasty bowl of fishy food. As I slowly showed it to her over the edge of her safe box, she glared at me with distain and fear. Food may be good, but she was in no mood.

Without thinking I did what I have done so many times over the years and talked to her. I showed her the food, moving it closer and closer, and let her sniff.  She was very hungry and it was not long before she devled into the bowl with vigor, all the while watching me through the corner of her eye. As she ate I moved closer inside the cage and touched her head slowly. She jerked back and hissed and then went back to eating.

Ten minutes later she was letting me pet her as I continued to speak to her slowly and softly... and a few moments after that a wonderful sound of purring was heard. Her posture relaxed and she was tempted to roll on her back and show me her belly...so tempted. Her head moved into the palm of my hand and the look of distain turned to calmness and perhaps a little love...I like to think:)

In the meantime my neighbor had come in and was sitting on the floor a foot away from her, watching the process. His mouth hanging open because he said she would not do anything but hiss and lunge at him through the cage and he was not sure how to deal with her. 

He likes animals...

Do you have any experiences that made you know that you are an animal-person rather than a person who just likes animals? Evie and I would love to hear from you!