You may have heard. I have two adorable kittens. Although they are still getting used to my place and learning to trust me, they excel at playing! If they are not eating, or sleeping, they are playing. They play well with each other. Although sometimes they seem to get a little rough. I am amused!
I love watching them race toward each other at some unknown signal, then at the meeting spot, they both fling themselves into the air and smash into each other’s bellies; dropping unceremoniously into a pile of kittens.
They sit crouched, waiting for their brother to cross their paths, then the race around. When they finish, maybe one caught the other, but usually not, they simply reverse roles and the chased becomes the chaser.
They also play with small cat toys. Their foster mother had packed a gift bag for me with cat treats, some kitten food, a lovely thank you note and two toys for each of them. They both love the small green fuzzy mouse. They must fling it or carry it because it ends up in most unusual places.
I purchased a cat tree for them. It has four different levels, some perches, and some cat condos. From two of the platforms are hung cat toys. I believe they are filled with catnip. They joyously run and jump all over this tree.
Last Saturday morning while I was getting ready for our appreciation fiesta, I heard a blood-curdling scream. They no longer sounded like kittens but like a couple of adult cats in a catfight. It was my smallest boy, three-pound, “ultra featherweight fighter” who had lodged one of his back legs inside a curtain pull. The more he fought to get out, the more frightened he became.
Of course, I rushed over to help him out. Not yet knowing me, he screamed in terror and scratched and bit me. The whole situation was a bit of a mess. I was a bit of a mess, too.
Now I am re-imagining a life that is tranquil and calm.
Last Sunday, I joked that I was going to teach them to meditate.
But I have come to decide that they are perfectly fine being playful kittens.
Sometimes, it is good for all of us to stop working and remember we were created to play.
I remember how much fun I had as a kid playing– my favorite play was singing and dancing for an audience.
So, I’m bringing the spirit of play into the sanctuary. All of August will be whimsical messages based on the ideas of Alice in Wonderland. To bring our best creativity out, let’s play together. I am inviting anyone who wants to participate to dress up as a character from Alice in Wonderland.
I plan as coming as the Mad Hatter, “I’m late. I’m late for a very important date..”
Come out and play with us.