Proof that I truly am an animal lover: I’ve found something to love about every cat I’ve met so far at work. There are certain personality types I’ve noticed, just in the short time I’ve been working at the cat boarding facility.
- The Playful Cat: this type of cat will catch you by surprise — usually with a paw to the leg as you pass by. He or she will bat at anything, and may engage in adorable paw wars with the cat in the room above or below.
- The Cranky Cat: this type of cat wants nothing to do with you. Or breakfast. Or cleaning. Or play. He or she may hide in their little cubby… or may be showing displeasure with hisses, swipes, arched back, and flattened ears. The cranky cat may be afraid, or stressed, or homesick.
- The Unpredictable Cat: maybe all cats fall into this category! One second playful, the next second irritated. Wanting attention one moment but wanting to be left alone the next.
- The Needy Cat: this cat wants you to know that he or she is there and lonely. You’ll be serenaded every time you just glance in the right direction! This cat may be more interested in human attention than in other cats, toys, or food.
- The Aloof Cat: this cat isn’t interested in what’s going on. Not looking for love. Not angry. Just hanging out and relaxing.
- The Surprise Affection Cat: this is the cat who seems like he or she is an aloof cat but suddenly turns on the purring when you touch them.
- The Houdini Cat: this type of cat either does strange things or has strange things happen in his/her cage, but is very nonchalant about them. For example, a guest somehow managed to relocate his (full) water bowl from the lounging shelf in his cage down onto the center of his bed. The bowl was upright when I found it — upright, but empty. The water was everywhere BUT in the bowl, and the cat wasn’t fazed at all.
My favorite types so far? Hard to pick just a few. There are definitely some current guests who I will miss when they go home to their families!