I had a cat (Buttons) who'd walk me to school in kindegarten. and maybe a third of the time would be around to walk me home. Lost him 3 times - long stories, much adventure. Firemen once had to release him from a house he was trapped in for a month. They asked my dad how he could be sure it was ours
Buttons ran out of the house, leapt six feet onto my dad's shoulder and began nuzzling and purring. He'd been living off mice and window condensation. A true friend to our family and especially me. Love ya Buttons
As an autistic adult, I am *so* familiar with this attitude. I used to call people who were especially neurotypical, or at least on that spectrum, "doggy." I think it fits. If they're doggy, I'm a bit catty.
Cats tend to like me. I don't baby talk to them. I acknowledge them, but then make no attempt to get them to come to me. If they do, I see what level of attention they want. Sometimes that's just a few head rubs, sometimes they want a lap to settle in. I wish people treated me like that sometimes.
Cats are living, breathing lessons in consent. Every kid should grow up with cats. You'll learn to back off, when someone likes you, and what enthusiastic consent looks like.
My male cat is very firm in this. He shys away from some pets until he sniffs your hand, then he'll present his shoulder to you if he wants them (he usually does). It's fascinating.
As much as I love my current cat, I'd like it if he wasn't quite as slavishly devoted to me as he is. "Daddy needs to go to sleep! Stop headbutting me!"
Someone inform my Calcifer of that, he must have missed the memo the way he apparently waits by the back door singing any time I leave the house (there are 3 other humans, 4 other cats, and 1 dog still in the house whenever I leave lol)
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Obvs.