My Crazy Cat Lady Confession
By: Zara Everly
Tags: Feminism, Self, Cats, Women, Feminist

My Crazy Cat Lady Confession

Photo by Milada Vigerova on Unsplash

Every morning, I wake up surrounded by pussy, beautiful pussy. Lots of pussies of many varieties. As I try to get to the bathroom, they practically trip me with their desires. You know how pussies are. Always hungry. Insatiable.

You see, the morning is kitty cat feeding time and as soon as they see me move even just a little, they begin their campaign. Poor little pussies. They are starving (they are not really starving).

I share my home with seven cats. I have always had a cat in my life and at this moment, I believe that I have shared my home with 10 other cats (RIP) over the course of my life. I am a crazy cat lady (or insane pussy woman) and I am rather proud of that.

And you know what? There is no reason for me to feel bad about it. Enjoying the company of cats is not a bad thing. Enjoying the company of many cats does not actually make me "crazy."

They are well taken care of. They are given a lot of attention, treats, good food, and appropriate health care. I am a former veterinary technician with nine years of veterinary experience and a degree under my belt. My home is clean: vacuumed, swept, and mopped every day. Litter pans daily attended to.

As far as running the day to day of my household, I am very structured. I have a routine and it keeps things under control. It really is not that hard.

I enjoy their company. The way they snuggle up on me, or next to me. I enjoy watching them interact with one another, and observing their different personalities (and they do have distinct personalities). I have a whole host of well founded cat conclusions that I have come to, based upon my lifelong observation of cats.

While I am a general animal lover, (I am the person that is excited to scope out rats in Central Park), I don't think that I could live without at least one cat sharing their life with me. I wouldn't want to.

I am not lonely. I am neat and I keep my home uncluttered. While introverted, I am not a recluse, (not even in these pandemic days). I shower every day. I have had my share of lovers.

I am none of the stereotypes associated with crazy cat ladies although I am rather an independent thinker. I can seem contrary when I stick to my guns. I don’t like to be pushed around. I want to do what I want to do and I will not welcome pressure to be otherwise.

Kind of like cats. Perhaps therein lies why crazy cat ladies have gotten a bad rep: they are the opposite of the young compliant female (the cat a symbol of that). And for some, that is a threat.

There are people who "hate" cats. When I ask why, often it stems from being uncomfortable with cats' perceived independence and general disobedience.

Unlike dogs, cats will not typically fawn all over you. When I come home, my dog acts as if we have been apart for years and his whole body contorts with happiness.

My cats- if they are within site- look up at me and that's about it. They are not overly demonstrative with their love. They don't quite worship me.

Women are supposed to fawn over men, right? Like dogs? Isn't that what some men want? Isn't that the idea that many of us have been indoctrinated with our entire lives? Be happy for your man. Worship him. Make him feel good about himself. Center your life around him. Like a dog.

Yea, fuck that.

My cats love me. They just don't generally make fools of themselves in expressing that. They have their own lives, thank you very much. They don't put their lives on hold for anyone or anything (except for maybe food). They don't sacrifice their dignity to prove their worthiness.

I like that. That's me. That's who I want to be.

Over the years, cats have received a bad reputation. There is a long history of cats being associated with women who refuse to be sweet compliant women (think witches or the grouchy spinster).

The association between cats, and "bad" women, is not accidental. The ire directed at them is not accidental either. The crazy cat lady stereotype purposely brings the adoration of cats, and their symbol of independence, and the "atypical " woman, and places them firmly in the margins as an object of derision.

Fuck that too.

Rather, I am going to live life defined by my terms, even if that doesn’t make sense to anyone else. I am going to be a woman in the way that I am meant to be.