International Cat Day is celebrated every year on August 8th—a day set aside to honor our feline friends and raise awareness about the welfare of cats around the world. It was originally created in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and is now promoted globally by a number of animal welfare organizations. The day encourages responsible pet ownership, support for shelters and rescue organizations, and, of course, a little extra love and attention for the cats who share our lives.
It’s also the perfect excuse (as if I ever need one) to shine the spotlight on Isabella. She’s been a part of my life since 2016, and in that time, she’s proven herself to be equal parts queen, comedian, and comforter. But during these past few weeks, as I’ve dealt with pain and limited mobility, she’s shown me just how deeply cats can sense when something isn’t right.
Normally, Isabella claims her favorite spot draped across my thigh, but lately, she’s been avoiding that area entirely. Instead, she’s taken to curling up on my chest, purring in a steady rhythm that feels like a balm to both body and spirit. She stays close, often stretched out nearby like a furry little sentinel, watching over me with her calm green eyes. Even when she’s sleeping in another room, she pads in at regular intervals to check on me—almost as if she’s clocking in for her nursing rounds.
Like Queen Alexandra making rounds during wartime or the Queen Mother comforting bomb victims during the Blitz, Isabella has stepped up in my time of need—furry crown and all.
Cats get an unfair reputation for being aloof, but Isabella is proof that they can be as loyal, attentive, and empathetic as any companion animal. On this International Cat Day, I’m grateful not just for her beauty or her quirks, but for the quiet, steady presence that has made these difficult days so much more bearable.
If you’re lucky enough to share your life with a cat, give them an extra scratch, treat, or cuddle today—they’ve probably done more for your well-being than you realize.
“Nurse Isabella reporting for duty. Vital signs: stable. Blanket: warm. Human: monitored.”
6 comments:
Since July 2018 Adam is part of my life and he is a very affectionate cat too. He was 5 months old when HE chose me at that cat shelter coming to me and purring like a 747. My heart melted down. Every day he follows me all over, come often for some cuddling etc..
As many cat behaviors, he will come in bed early like at 5am to see if I'll get up but at that time it's more a "pipi" time. He knows it and follows me to the bathroom. Going back to bed he knows my night sleep is to be continue and he will lay on the cover and fall asleep for me to wake up later.
He's a special cat and I think he understand me when I talk to him like a dog.
Oh you cat people! I’ve been a cat person all my long life. Our latest one sat next to a guest who was sitting on the couch. The person has parkinson’s and her hands were shaking on her lap. My cat reached over and put her paws on the person’s hands to steady them. Cats are very intuitive to sickness in people.
Two cats for the price of one (French expression) !
Long live cats ! Long live Isabella !
Are you feeling better?
They really are. There is a book called Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat by Dr. David Dosa.
It’s a nonfiction book published in 2010 about a therapy cat named Oscar who lived in the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rhode Island. Oscar became famous because he would seemingly predict when a patient was near death — curling up with them in their final hours and offering comfort. Dr. Dosa, a geriatrician at the facility, wrote about Oscar’s behavior, his own experiences with patients, and the emotional challenges of end-of-life care.
Years ago when I was a listener of NPR more than an audiobook listener when driving, our local station had a slot of time each day when they would read a book. They would read it each day until finished and then start another book. I remember listening to parts of this book. It was a very sweet book, but I never have read or listened to the whole book.
Remarkably, I am feeling much better today. When I got up this morning I was able to do so without any pain. I was also able to feed Isabella and make my coffee before the pain in my leg got too bad and I needed to sit. The longer I’ve been up, the short the periods of standing without pain has shortened, but the pain seems to be mostly in my thigh today, though there is some pain in my foot. My physical therapist said that the goals of the exercise she gave me and the exercises she’ll give me in the future is for the pain to steadily move up my leg until it is only in my lower back. Once it’s only in my lower back, then we can concentrate more on my core to strengthen it to hopefully prevent this from happening again.
I think Isabella understands me too. Each day when I leave for work, I scratch her head and say, “Goodbye Isabella. I love you. Be a good girl today. I’ll be home this evening.” Often if she’s somewhere I don’t see her and I start out the door, she’ll come out and meow so that I can say goodbye. She often acts aloof in the morning curled up asleep somewhere after she’s had her breakfast, but she still wants me to say goodbye to her and assure her that I’m coming back.
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