Tuesday, December 30, 2014

The Cat Who Stares at Christmas Trees


Along with being a prodigious smeller, Renn is also a superb starer. He can sit and stare at something for a great many minutes. At least, I assume that he’s staring at something. I never actually comprehend at what he is staring, so he may in fact go into a kind of ‘catatonic trance...

I believe, however, that such concentration is always part of his on-going studies of the world around him. His attempts to understand his environment involve watching it, and then interpreting what he sees. Or having a good lie-down. The latter may be a form of meditation, by which he reasons through what he has observed.


This time, I caught my big boy staring at the Christmas tree. It was not a direct stare, but rather off to the side. Nonetheless, he may have been contemplating the socio-religious significance of the holiday as symbolised by the tree. More probably, he was wondering why his human once again put up a wooden and plastic ornament which had neither taste (so he was informed by Cammie) nor smell. Either way, his thoughts on the matter would prove interesting, were I able to read them.

One day, after we have both passed on, he may feel free to tell me what he was thinking about, what he found so absorbing about this moment, and what he saw then. For my part, I will then understand all there is to know about cats. And why they stare.

9 comments:

  1. He's staring at the aliens?Ghosts? Waiting for instructions from the Mother Ship?

    Or maybe he's totally in the moment and not thinking anything; he's at the pinnacle of Present Moment Being. :-)

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  2. I would suggest holding ones breath for such a clarifiCATion is a fools errand. Hmm, on thinking on this a bit I seem to resemble that.
    Dad Pete and Furs

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  3. I often wonder too, what my cats are thinking, but I must admit I kind of doubt it's anything as deep as Renn may be contemplating. Should I take another nap, eat some kibble or chase one of my fur sibs around the house is the limit for these three!

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  4. Brulee tends to stare off into the fireplace. Mom Paula doesn't even want to know what Brulee think she sees.

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  5. Very Zen like. I think Renn is fully in the moment, not thinking just being. I love to watch them when they do this but feel like I'm invading their privacy.

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  6. Renn is a gorgeous cat. I admit I wonder sometimes when they are staring so intently at something what in the world it is, but you know when I look there is nothing there!

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  7. It is odd that humans put up a tree, hang twinkly lights and toys all over it but then spend endless energy telling cats that they must stay away from this tree. Just what is the meaning of this? Are humans just trying to mock cats? Renn knows the answer.
    Happy New Year and may 2015 bring peace, health and happiness to you and the kitties. From Eileen and Jessica

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  8. Maybe he is just enjoying :) Happy 2015! Hope it is filled with happiness and goodness!

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