Journal 📚 Cats & Volunteers 🐈

[angelbirth]

Sender: Satan
To: Everyone
Subject: Cats & Volunteers

[ In a handwriting that balances on a fine line between neat and messy, the following is written: ]

Hello.

I have two distinctly separate requests, and I urge you to remember that these are separate when you read this.

Firstly, I am looking for a cat. One with a particularly charming button nose, splendid toe beans, and a mewl that could pawsitively melt any heart. While I understand that describes virtually all felines, I thought I'd see if anyone had seen such a cat around.

Secondly—and separately—I am looking for volunteers to participate in a research study. An exceptional candidate would be sturdy and healthy, even better if the candidate has experience overcoming various poisons and toxins. There are risks, such as loss of life, but ideally my research and my own magic-slash-dreamotion energy would prevent death. So ultimately, the risk is minimal. Most likely. Please let me know if you'd be willing to volunteer.

Comments

[perfectenn]

[ Tenn questions how safe it is when they keep getting unexpectedly yanked into dreams, and there are such predators as snoyotes and noctaere lurking around the forest. Nevertheless, that's off the main point.

The next lines are written slowly and deliberately. ]

Can you do that?

Can you get to know each cat individually, their unique preferences and needs, and fulfill them

to the cat's standards, not your own?

[angelbirth]

Of course I can.

Although I was prohibited from owning any pets back home, I spent as much time as I could with any stray cats I came across. I'd watch them and learn where their favorite spots to nap were; learned to differentiate each cat's cries for attention versus hunger versus boredom; and, of course, I learned each stray cat's favorite spot to be pet.

If my text came across as though I am frivolously looking for a pet that I might discard later, I assure you that is not the case.

[ He would quite literally die for a cat, and would certainly have no qualms killing or maiming anyone who would hurt a cat -- or any animal, really, but especially a cat. His obsession is... very intense. ]

[perfectenn]

[ Tenn pauses, fingers tapping the quill in frustration. Even though there seems to be an honest concern for the animals' wellbeing, that perspective is, if not frivolous, at least childish. There's a certain amount of holding his tongue, because this conversation is public. But as a cat lover himself, he cannot let such ignorance slide! ]

Nevertheless. Cats require time. They are easily frightened in new environments, around new people and animals. If you bring too many into a strange home all at once, it will be more stressful than if you introduce them one at a time.

[angelbirth]

I understand. For the most part, I've been letting them come to me if they want, but I don't run into cats as often here as I did back home. Which is a shame, really.

[ He misses being able to just lie in bed and browse through his favorite cat forums on his phone before bed. ]

Do you think I'm ill-equipped to care for a few cats?

[perfectenn]

[ Yes. But it's better for the feline residents of the town if he expounds on that. ]

Inexperienced, rather. Cats are independent, and therefore have a need to establish themselves within their territory. They want to know where everything is and where they stand with those they meet. If you've been interacting with cats in their space, you are unaware how they’ll respond when relocated.

[ And that may result in such bad behaviors as posturing and hissing... not like he knows anything about that. ]

Letting a cat come to you and bond in their own way is essential. But you must allow the same consideration in letting cats get to know each other individually.