Don't it Make His Green Eyes Red: Learning to Love

It was getting out of control. My cat. A combination of growling and meowing, obsessive, just being a royal, well, you know what. He isn't sick; just wants attention. I tried the tactics of what I had learned by watching "The Dog Whisperer"in not making eye contact to show him who's boss, but one night last week, after Russell, our black and white cat, was not responding, and in fact, getting worse, I stopped.

Everywhere in my life improvements were happening, but not with this cat and that was not good since I adore being home and quietly working, and as an empty nester, it is now just the cat and me.

He is obsessed with me brushing him which I do every morning very soon after feeding him. If he had it his way, the brush would be surgically attached to my hand and he would be under it.

I am his slave, it seems.

So about this time last week, I turned and looked him in the eyes and said this to him, "Russell, we've got to work this out. We are here, together, and this is our castle. We must find a way peacefully to live together. I love you, Russell, now let's make this work."

I stared into his green eyes and watched him. He looked at me, watching me, and this cat is unusually smart, and together, I knew he understood. He calmed down. He laid down beside me. The growling/meowing stopped. And I sat there, red-faced.

One week later, we are living in harmony. He still howls if I get distracted or too animated while having a phone conversation, but he doesn't headbutt me in the morning if I move one iota while  waking or bolt in front of me as I walk to the bedroom, expecting me to brush him every time I go in there.

He is calmer and so am I. Just now he walked in, ate, and then, stopped by my chair and gave a big growling howl. Before I would have ignored him, but, instead, I reached down and asked him what was wrong and petted him. He stared at me. He knows my intention and I know his. He wants to be brushed and I want to work at home, in tranquility.

I had control all the time and its name is love.

My bad.