Your Friendly Neighborhood Cat

Tulsa Tales

https://photos.app.goo.gl/opbeLCr5LWmW2DoUA

Sunday, Jan 23, 2022

So here's what I forgot to mention in this video: the cat actually got up from it's resting spot on the stoop and walked towards me while meowing. Initially, I took this as a sign that the cat didn't want me to get close to it's territory so I tried to walk around the path it was carving straight to me. Then, it rolled onto it's back... a friendly gesture... inviting me to interact with it.

I don't usually touch other ppls pets; or just outdoor animals in general unless I get permission from the animal AND it's owner. I'm not a weirdo who believes every animal in the world exists for me to invade their space and touch it. I said what I said. But this time, felt very different.

As I started to walk away (cause again, as friendly as it was being, I don't touch other ppls animals), a dog being walked on a leash started to approach and immediately this cat became frightened and dashed up the stairs to hide. Instinctively, I tried to calm the cat's anxiety by talking softly and waiting for the dog to pass so the cat wasn't alone. Once the dog was down the block, this cat ran up on me immediately and started rubbing up against my legs, expressing its appreciation. That's when I decided, I need to rest anyways. I'm gonna kick it with this cat for as long as it will allow me to.

So we sat. It rolled around a lot and constantly rubbed up on me, front to back. Before I knew it, for a brief moment, I didn't feel the pain I was carrying with me. It only returned once I realized it had left. That's when I knew this moment was magical.

I've always been an animal lover, but pass interactions with cats have been hit or miss. None of them bad, but sometimes cats just don't fuck with you. And that's their right. But this cat... It greeted me like it knew me. Literally called me over to its stoop and invited me into its space. I don't have the words to explain how amazing that made me feel.

I'm currently in a period of uncertainty and instability in my life. I literally have no idea where to go, what to do, or how to move next (literally and figuratively). But for a moment, none of my problems existed. It was just me, and the friendly neighborhood cat. Holding each other up, and down.