One secret I never tell anybody is what I always carry cat treats in my bag, because along my walks, there are the community cats. Just in case I meet one of them.
Cats under void decks.
Cats hiding near bushes.
Cats sleeping beside coffee shops.
I simply cannot ignore them, and when I do, I usually stop. Sit down. Offer them a treat. Spend a little time with them. Sometimes that is all a cat wants. A snack and a little company.
So when I saw this orange one waiting, I offered him the same treats I offer to the community cats, goodness me... he loved them. The moment he heard the packet rustling, those eyes would become enormous. I think him being one of the community cats, the sound of the treats packaging is too familiar. He must have miss it so much.
Suddenly I wasn't just the neighbour anymore. I was the treats supplier. Then He would lean forward and smell my hand and I could see his eyes widen. The smell of the other cats. He could smell them deligently on my fingers, this time I have to set the record straight.
"Look here, orange boy. You are very handsome. Very fluffy and very orange. but you're not the only cat in the world."
I reminded him again. "You were once like them, before someone rescued you, before the luxury cat tree, the wall-mounted cat house, the climbing shelves and the all-inclusive lifestyle package. Seriously ah... the way your owners spoil you. Some people don't even have a house with that many features."
I looked him straight in the eye. "So accept it. This is who I am. I meet community cats. I feed community cats. I pet community cats. Sometimes community cats sit on my lap. And no, I will not be apologising."
He stared back at me. Probably judging me. Cats are very good at judging people. Eventually, he seemed to accept the arrangement, finally understood and reached a practical conclusion.
Something like: "Who cares how many cat affairs you have? As long as you keeps bringing treats."
And honestly…that is probably the most cat-like conclusion possible.
As I stood there talking to the orange one, my eyes naturally wandered around the house. The cat area was immaculate and spotless. The wall shelves were neatly arranged and the cat house looked like it belonged in an interior design magazine.
Then I looked at the living room. Goodness me. Complete disaster. Luggage bags still on the floor. Half open. Clothes sticking out. Things everywhere.
Honestly, the cat's living quarters were far better organised than the humans'.
Which led me to an unavoidable conclusion. The orange one was clearly the responsible adult in the household. These young people were merely his staff. The luggage situation continued to bother me. Not because of the mess. Well... partly because of the mess. But mostly because luggage means travel. And travel means opportunities.
This required further investigation. Nothing dramatic. Just basic information gathering.
Purely for cat-related purposes. After all, if they travel frequently, somebody has to look after the orange one. And if somebody has to look after the orange one... Why not the neighbour? Very convenient. Same floor. No transport required. No travel time. Premium service.
Of course, before any proposal can be made, one must gather intel. How often do they travel? Long trips or short trips? Who currently looks after the cat? Do they already have a regular cat sitter?
Important and strategic questions. And so a new mission was born.
Operation Orange.
Step One: Gather information.
Step Two: Evaluate opportunities.
Step Three: Introduce cat-sitting services. Casually. Professionally.
Definitely not in a way that suggests I have spent the last year building a relationship with their cat.
The challenge, however, is how to introduce myself as a cat sitter without appearing suspicious. Or worse... Frightening the lady owner.
"Why don't you just get your own cat?" somebody asked me once. Not because I cannot. The problem is... I live with my in-laws. And unfortunately, they are not cat people. Yet. Every great mission requires patience.
So for now, I have embarked on my latest project: Gradual Feline Exposure Therapy™ A Practical Guide to Converting Non-Cat People Into Cat People By: A Totally Unbiased Cat Person. Which is me, of course.
My daughter has already been converted. That mission was completed many years ago. After all it in her genes.
My husband has also been converted. Well... perhaps "converted" is not the correct word. More accurately, he married a cat person and eventually accepted that cats, community cats, cat videos and random cat conversations are now permanent features of his life. He had no choice.
Now my attention has shifted to the next candidate. My sister-in-law. The interesting thing is that she doesn't dislike cats. She has simply never been properly exposed to one. There is a difference.
You cannot expect someone to appreciate cats if they have never experienced:
• a kitten drinking milk from a bottle,
• the wobbling ears,
• the tiny paws,
• the tiny squeaks,
• or a cat deciding your lap belongs to them.
Therefore, the therapy begins. Nothing aggressive. Just subtle exposure.
A cute cat video here.
A kitten rescue story there.
Perhaps a photograph then another video. Purely educational material.
Over time, these things accumulate. Then one day the subject will say: "Aiyoh... quite cute." Progress. Then several weeks later: "Show me that kitten video again." Breakthrough.
Eventually, one day, a cat will walk into the house. And when that day comes, I will remain calm. I will not say: "I told you so." Instead, I will simply smile and say: "The cat has chosen our house. We should feel honoured."
And thus, Phase 7 of Gradual Feline Exposure Therapy [1] will be complete.
The cat distribution system works in mysterious ways. 😆
August 2026
