The Accidental Cat Lady

Three months (to the day, but who's counting) after we started our life as nomads, we had to say goodbye to our beloved Red. Colan and I are dogless for the first time in over twenty years. We still have a cat, and the poor thing is the recipient of all our pet-centric love and devotion. (Millie might want a dog more than we do, which is saying A LOT.) Red’s absence has turned us into “cat people.” Cat people with a long-suffering cat. (Is there any other kind?!)

Just a week after Red died, we traveled two hours to a rescue event to meet what we thought would be our next dog. We were catfished (we both agree we’re not “fish people”) and left empty-handed. It was a rough experience, but probably for the best. This will likely be the only time we find ourselves without a dog, and as we mourn Red’s loss, we’re learning to enjoy the upside of our short-in-the-grand-scheme-of-things stint as Cat People. Sure, all three of us think it’s weird and are a bit uncomfortable, but thems the breaks.

We’re doubling back to Yellowstone, Glacier, and Grand Teton National Parks in 2025, and the freedom to leave home for eight or more hours at a time is such a gift. (I still feel ridiculously guilty when we leave our Squeak for more than a few hours, to which she most certainly rolls her eyes.) It’s also freeing to eat without having to contend with pleading watchful eyes. (Our girl did not inherit her mom’s affinity for food) There’s a bit more room in the bed. Bruynie is a little easier to keep clean. And my favorite? I’ve channeled all of the energy and time of walking Red into making Millie an Indoor Cat who gets to moonlight as an Outdoor Cat, albeit chaperoned. I only need about another decade to get her to be leash-trained. It’s deepened our bond, and we are both happy to report that Colan is becoming less of a helicopter dad. (Millie knows we’ll both be grounded if she abuses her freedom. Probably for a long time. A really long time.)

Still, regardless of any upside, it’s all nothing compared with the immeasurable gift of living life with dogs by your side. Colan and I know that one day, probably not too far away, we’ll wake up and declare that we can’t live another moment without a dog as part of our family. And then, not long after that, we’ll wake up and want a second. I suppose that’ll make our grand total of pets two-and-a-half dogs and half a cat because, despite her haughty attitude, Millie is loving the dog life. Or, in her words? She’s devolving.

Hope to see you (and your pets) out there! —CL