Dear Diary, We’re Getting a Cat & I Am Not Too Happy About It

Issue 17: Why did I agree to this?

Luckily for me, we’re only getting a cat temporarily.

One of my relatives is having surgery tomorrow, and she asked if we could look after her cat for a couple of weeks whilst she recovers.

My kids, of course, jumped at the opportunity. They love cats. And seeing as the summer holidays are just around the corner and I’m trying this whole “be a better, more present, more spontaneous parent” thing, I agreed.

The truth is, I don’t like cats.
Sometimes I lie and tell people I’m allergic to them, just to avoid the shock and horror on their faces when I say that I am not a fan of cats.

But if I’m being really honest... I’m scared of cats.

Hear me out.

Cats are mysterious.

They move silently, they stare at you like they know what you’re thinking, and then they pounce at random times for no particular reason.

They eat mice on purpose.

And I once read (or maybe someone told me at a party?) that if you die alone in your home, your cat will eventually eat your corpse. Not sure how true that is, but I believe they are capable.

To make matters more stressful, I live in a flat on the 4th floor of my building. And this cat is an outdoor cat.

Now tell me: how is she supposed to find her way back to the fourth floor if she ever wanders off?

How do we keep an outdoor cat indoors?

These are the questions I really should have thought through before saying yes.

I wasn’t sure if I should say this next part because I am very aware that I will probably lose subscribers. I’ve been debating myself on whether or not I should say it…

But here goes…

I’m also not a huge fan of dogs.

There, I said it.

I won’t even give reasons for this to avoid upsetting people.

Hear me out…

I’m a city girl through and through.

I grew up in London, in a flat surrounded by buses, sirens, corner shops, and the constant hum of traffic. Wildlife, in my world, meant the occasional pigeon on the balcony or a fox rummaging through bins at night.

I wasn’t raised in one of those “let’s get a rabbit, a hamster, and a miniature indoor zoo” kind of families.

So while I don’t mind other people’s pets (I can certainly admire a well-behaved dog from a polite distance or offer a stiff pat on the head to a friendly cat), I’ve just never been the kind of person who dreams of being a pet owner. Or pet parent, I should say (still figuring out the terminology; I’d rather not get cancelled by the pet-loving community before this cat even arrives).

I’ve never looked at a fluffy pet and felt that overwhelming urge some people describe as the “Oh my goodness, I must have one now or I’ll die” feeling. That gene seems to have skipped me entirely.

Yet, I will still take on this cat and look after it, which is why I am currently googling “how to cat-proof a balcony” at 10:30 PM.

I’m trying to have an open mind.

I might grow to love cats and become a cat person by the end of the summer. Though I highly doubt it.

Anyway, here is the cat we will be looking after. I would tell you which breed she is, but I’m not even sure cats have breeds.

My relative’s cat. Her name is Coco the cat.