Finding Your Tribe

If you live in a multi-cat household, you may have noticed the relationships your cats have formed with each other. Some may be BFF, other may be mortal enemies, and some may just coexist. It is amazing to think how these relationships form. How some cats will gravitate towards each other, while others stay aloof. If you think about it, as humans, we do the same thing. We find ourselves gravitating towards each other and forming relationships with those around us. The type of relationships that we form is greatly dependent on common ground. When you find that common ground it is like finding your tribe. This same idea goes for your cats.

Common Ground

Having common ground and finding your tribe is an amazing feeling. There is a feeling of acceptance that we all crave. I remember when I first started volunteering with Feral Cat Assistance Program during the monthly Spay/Neuter Clinics. It was amazing to find a group of people who shared my passion for helping cats. I left there knowing that I found my people.

This same premise can go for our cats. Right now, we have been dealing with some cat drama with Bodie & Hemingway joining forces against Zazzles. What’s interesting about this is the fact that Bodie and Hemingway have never really been “best buds”. They interact with each other occasionally, but never been a team. Until now. Now, they have a common bound. They both dislike Zazzles. And this common dislike has helped them form a tighter bond. Sadly, this new bond has made things more difficult with keeping peace and harmony in our household. We are working on it, but it is a long road.

Happy Place

Finding your tribe, for me, is the same as finding your happy place. For the past 4 years, I have been volunteering with FCAP all because I knew I had found my tribe. My people. My happy place. It has made all the difference in staying active in the cat community. It is hard working in TNR and Rescue. There are some really tough days. Having your tribe there to support you makes all of the difference. Keeping in mind that our cats have their own tribes will help us support them. Helping them find common ground amongst themselves can help them feel safe and supported. Even the common ground of their love for cat treats can help bring about acceptance for each other. It is more difficult to hiss at each other when you are crunching on some treats.

“Way down deep, we’re all motivated by the same urges. Cats have the courage to live by them.” – Jim Davis