What’s Up With Cats?

I can name about 20 dogs that have been part of my family through the years.

We’ve only had one cat.

Miller.

It’s a crazy matter as Miller entered our lives when Sam’s friend was kicked out of her apartment and she had to relocate five cats.

For a couple of days when I was out of town there were five cats here.

Four of them were gone by the time I got home, but I saw a flash of black in Sam’s room.

“What the hell is in your room?”

“Uh, that’s Miller. He’s a cat. I’m trying to get him a new home, but no one wants him.”

“Why did you name him Miller?” I asked.

“I thought of Mr. Miller and we had Miller beer.”

I laughed. Mr. Miller to Sam is my long-time friend Chris.

I couldn’t very well toss ‘Mr. Miller’ out into the streets.

Cut to a couple of weeks later, Sam went to visit his cousins in North Carolina.

“Um, can you take care of Mr. Miller while I’m gone?”

And that was that!

Mr. Miller is now my second shadow…along with his best buddy Ollie.

He is in the middle of all my routines, and lets me know when it’s time for bed, and when he thinks I should be getting out of bed.

It’s between 5:30 and 6:30 during the week so, Miller firmly believes that the weekend should also be highly productive in those early morning hours.

“Tomorrow is Saturday!” I lectured Miller before bed last night.

He woke me up anyway…

…as he does each morning.

It’s highly annoying because, if you’ve ever had a cat you’ll know what I’m saying:

It’s all about them!

My feelings are of little concern to Miller.

“I’m going to strangle him!” I said, to Kathy, one sleepless Sunday morning.

“Yeah, right. He absolutely owns you, and he knows it.”

Which is most definitely true.

Mr. Miller Beer.

He’s a real charmer. 

My living, breathing alarm clock.