2. What is caring for an elderly cat or dog?

My cat was born unable to walk straight,
cannot jump onto high places,
and has a body that has fallen down the stairs many times,
but he will be 21 next month.

Since I picked him up when he was about 5 days old,
he has grown up to be so resilient and lived such a long life,
and I am truly grateful to his vitality and to God.

Perhaps starting about five years ago,
he gradually became unable to walk,
and could no longer get into his litter box (he couldn't step over the entrance).

And then, from some point on,
the 10 meters he used to walk became 5 meters, then 3 meters,
then 1 meter, then 50 centimeters...

I bring his water and food close to his mouth,
and when he calls me, I rush over to meet his needs,
that is what my days are like.

But he is very energetic.

Cover me with a blanket,
I can't turn over,
give me some water,
I want to eat,
I need to use the toilet,
I've used the toilet,
day or night,
I am called for all sorts of things.

It was only when people told me, "Caring for a cat is hard work, isn't it?"
that I realized this was "caregiving."

My cat calls me for all sorts of errands, but
there is a special kind of "summons."

That is the "Are you there?" call.
When I rush over and say, "I'm here," and pet him, he stops crying and goes to sleep.

Then there is the "I can't do it right" call.
He calls me when he can't go to the bathroom properly or when he can't sleep well.

For the bathroom, all I can do is support him and wait until he finishes, but
when he can't sleep well,
if I cover him with a blanket and pat him, he falls asleep.

At those times, I wonder,
is this really "caregiving"?

As a groomer,
I am sometimes consulted about the troublesome behaviors of senior dogs or the hardships and difficulties of caring for them,
but everyone is truly
wonderfully devoted and kind, and it moves me.

But it seems there are times when they get tired,

trying too hard,
worrying too much about what the cat's happiness really is,
feeling too anxious about whether this is the right thing to do,
blaming themselves,
or feeling sorry for the cat...

There can also be differences in temperature between family members,
which can increase feelings of loneliness...

When that happens, it might be good to do as I do and
stop calling it caregiving (stop thinking of it as caregiving).

I don't feel like I am taking care of my cat,
I feel like he is letting me take care of him.

I wonder what caregiving really is.

Changing the cat litter in the box and
cleaning up accidents on the bed are the same thing,

clearing away the food dish and
holding the dish for him to eat are the same,

changing his water and
helping him drink it are the same.

From when they could walk to now when they cannot,
nothing has changed at all.

They have lived their lives just as they always have since they were born,
simply living normally.

When I see dogs and cats living their lives without changing,
even as the things they can do decrease,

I am made to realize how small I am,
fearing change and loss and being swayed by every little thing.

Searching for or making helpful gadgets is fun,
it is moving when I finally understand what they are trying to say when I couldn't before, and the way they earnestly try to convey their feelings, as if every moment might be their last, is also wonderful—above all, they are just so cute.

In the life of caring for your beloved dog or cat,
we should be careful
not to make ourselves suffer.

Thank you for reading.🍀