Tigerlilly - Lobsang Rampa

We also have a small scratch-pad which is just a good lump
of wood about twice the length of the cat, and is covered with
coarse carpet. The cat will throw herself on that and tear and
tear and tear, and I say to you very seriously indeed, our cats
do not tear up furniture nor furnishings, because they recog-
nize these things as their own property put there for their
convenience and they never abuse one's trust in them.
Another thing which is very, very important—if you are go-
ing to be away for a number of hours you should tell your cat
so. You should take that cat gently and look into the face and
say slowly and firmly that you are going to be away for a cer-
tain number of hours and then you will return. This was
brought to my attention quite forcibly some time ago; I had to
go out shopping and I said, ‘Well, cats, I am going out, shan't
be long, goodbye,’ and I went out. Unfortunately, I was de-
layed a matter of hours. You know what it is, I saw some
things. I went wistfully window-shopping and I saw a lot of
things which I couldn't afford and which I wished that I could
afford, so time went faster than I expected, and when I re-
turned home it was to hear that the two cats had gone almost
demented with worry. They had been like raging things for a
time, and then they had both gone to bed and turned their
faces to the wall, which is a step preparatory to dying.
Oh yes, a cat can die as easily as that. If a cat is parted from
a loved one and sees no hope of being reunited, the cat
may—and I am absolutely serious in this—turn its face to the
wall, and die. We have seen it happen, unfortunately.
A pet, whether cat or dog, is a thing of joy. A companion
who never lets one down. A companion one can always rely
upon, a good friend who knows how to express sympathy, who
can cheer one up and show that even though the whole world
turns against one, SHE understands and loves one still.
115