Cats and Second Life: Hot Water Bottles & Body Pillows

In our home, we have a pair of rescued cat siblings, Komachi and Azuki. They were raised with great care by kind foster parents, and then, through a stroke of fate, they came to live with us.

Today is February 22nd.
It is Cat Day, because of the 'nyan-nyan-nyan' (meow-meow-meow) pun.

The fourth installment of the Cats and Second Life series.

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Thanks to our floor heating, our home is warm from the ground up during the winter. Lying on the hardwood floor for a nap is a moment of pure bliss for humans, and the cats feel the same way. They purr contentedly while lounging on the heated floor.

My childhood home was a wooden building with many drafts, so a hot water bottle was essential in winter. That indescribable feeling of happiness when slipping into a warm futon is simply irresistible.

Our current home is a reinforced concrete apartment, so we don't have to worry about drafts. A comfortable room temperature is maintained throughout the year, but sometimes I find myself missing the warmth of a hot water bottle.

For us now, there is something that warms our hearts even more than a hot water bottle. Yes, it's our black cats, Azuki and Komachi!

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At night, before getting into bed, when I call out, 'Time for bed, cats!', Azuki happily trots over to me.

When I get into the futon and lift it up just a little, he slides right in through the gap as if he had been waiting for it. He dives in headfirst and skillfully makes a U-turn inside. He curls up and sleeps beside me, searching for the most comfortable spot in the crook of my arm.

'You're so cute, Azuki.'

The time until I fall asleep is truly a precious moment. The cats are always the first to fall asleep. I would love to fall asleep using a fluffy cat as a body pillow, but the downside is that Azuki presses his face against mine, and his whiskers prickle my skin.

Cat whiskers are surprisingly stiff and painful, aren't they? Besides, if I let my guard down, he might meow right in my ear, which sometimes wakes me up.

Even so, I can't resist their cuteness. All of it, taken together, makes for a lovely time.

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On the other hand, the older sister cat, Komachi, never comes inside the futon. She always stays on top of my futon or my wife's, as if she is watching over us until we fall asleep.

Azuki, who is a clingy sweetheart, and Komachi, who is cool and aloof. They have completely opposite personalities, but that balance is exquisite.

One night, when I turned over, I noticed Komachi gently peering at my face. She gave my head a light cat-punch. I felt my heart melt at such a gentle gaze from Komachi, who usually doesn't get too close to people.

Perhaps, in her own way, Komachi is snuggling up to us too.

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The days spent with my cats provide me with calm and heartwarming moments. Every day, I feel the irreplaceable happiness of my second life through them.

I want to continue to slowly and carefully weave these precious times with Azuki and Komachi.

It's not about becoming happy; happiness is found right here in these casual, everyday moments.

Cats and Second Life Series Articles ↓