Nature offers invaluable examples, none more riveting than animals, including their tendency to sidestep self-pity. In the modern era, everyone has a cause, grievance, or reason to protest, or to ask the government for money, making themselves the cause. Animals do not do that. They make no room for self-pity.
To mind comes the example of a cat we had. She lived 18 years, a wonderful cat named Tigre, a fighting Maine Coon. We let her out every day. She came home every night or the next morning. We watched her character, invariably catlike, insistent, naturally indulgent at times, sure that she was right, but no self-pity.
You may doubt me, make light of the idea that anyone can learn anything from a cat, since – as they say – “dogs have masters, cats have staff” – but they teach. As do dogs. You might be surprised.
Cats put on a good show, prance around like they own the world, preen for attention, and sometimes avoid any responsibility for the chaos they so casually, deliberately, and indifferently create.
But there is more to a cat than meets the eye, and more to life than imagining they have less character than vanity, less strength than a tendency to demand attention. In a way, they are a reflection of the human race, no lack of vanity, need for attention, and self-absorption.
But cats, like dogs – and I have one dying of cancer right now – are an example also of hidden strength, hidden will to live, to give, to be loved, and to love. They are more than we often give credit for, especially in a whirling, rush-rush, “just an animal” world. They teach.
So, what do I mean? Only this. In the modern world, we teach kids, by example and acquiescence, to believe it is fine to make demands, stake a claim to someone else’s pie or hard-earned tax dollars, believe you are deprived, insufficiently recognized, deserve more, and that they should work less and ask more, find truth on U-tube, and never suffer without self-pity.
Cats and dogs seldom, if ever, do that. Our wonderful 18-year-old cat, Tigre, faced down a fox – nose to nose – and the fox was terrified, ran, never returned. She – and another Maine coon – chased a dog off the property, leaving him wondering whether Darwin was right or just daydreaming.
And then one day, like my wonderful rescue dog, at my feet as I write, got cancer. She did not know it, just felt it. Cats do not, so far as I know, have a word for cancer, and if they did, it would get subsumed in a long hiss. But she knew things needed fixing, and so she came to us.
The vet – to save her for a time – removed one of her legs. To the humans around her, including my kids, the event was traumatic, something to be mourned or worried over, or discussed. To Tigre? Nothing at all. Within an hour, she was stable, able to jump, run, chase, walk, and seemed to have wholly forgotten she ever had a fourth leg.
I kid you not, there was not one ounce of looking back, not one bit of self-pity, or of “if only,” or “oh gosh,” or “poor me,” not a sliver, not even a whine or mope. She was all in for life, with her three legs and all that they could do for her, and had a fox appeared, she would have been at him in a blink.
So, what did that event teach us? That cats – and my dog is the same, although still on all four – have no time for self-pity. This business about griping, complaining, and wishing things were better, when they are as they are, and that is God’s design, is for the birds.
But not really, as birds do not complain either. It is just an indulgence of humans, something we permit ourselves. Our best moments – and I am sure I will regret writing this, except that cats and dogs cannot read, so far as I know – are when we adopt that attitude, look beyond what ails us.
Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, attorney, and naval intelligence officer (USNR). He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (2018), and is National Spokesman for AMAC. Robert Charles has also just released an uplifting new book, “Cherish America: Stories of Courage, Character, and Kindness” (Tower Publishing, 2024).
Wonderful article Charles! You hit it right on the nose(s)!
Most excellent! I appreciate the wisdom of these words. Perhaps we humans should be more like the cats, dogs and birds for life “is what ti is”.
Thanks for sharing. Loved this article!
Thank you RBC…wise words!
There is a matter of courage too, connected to the not complaining lack of self pity stuff. Two examples I witnessed with family Cat in early 1970’s – both at a family property in New Jersey . A neighborhood dog , a huge critter, apparently part Shepard dog, easily four or five times the size of our average sized. Cat came scratching at the door and I opened door to see if I could get a telephone number or address from tags on the dog collar . Cat was sitting on window sill – when I opened door Cat jumped from window and bolted out the door in pursuit of the huge dog. What a site to see – that Cat running across about a hundred feet of lawn chasing after the huge Dog. Cat came back a few minutes later with an obvious look of achievement about it – as if she was saying – “Okay, did what was needed ,gave that Dog a good chase ! ” Another time just a month later about three dozen Sea Gulls were on lawn next to house ,this time Cat , grey and white fur color, got into a crawl position and proceeded to crawl towards Seagull flock at about two or three feet per minute.After about five minutes Cat was within about three or four feet of the flock before they took to the air. Cat leaped into the air about three feet off the ground but could not grab the airborne Gull it was after. So, Cat just came back to house – relaxed, calm , sat down in favorite spot and I from expression on her face was thinking thoughts like – ” That was a good try ! So who cares if I didn’t catch a Sea Gulls anyway ? I sure don’t ! “
Pets are amazing, majority tough, enduring, never complaining. Humans were once upon a time like that, when you read about them marching hungry and tattered and surviving, The surveyors and explorers and first settlers. Scratching the living bare handed from wilderness. What a race that was. What would they think of us , our whining and complaining I can’t imagine. Perhaps it’s time to teach the young ones the facts of life.
Wonderful message here, thank you RBC and God bless you and your critters. I just had one of my cats euthanized a month ago, they are little beings that never complain, just unconditional love, miss her so.
Great Article. Animals can teach us many things. Endurance, unconditional love and determination to name a few!
I didn’t add the?‘s on my comment.
Thank you????
Great message!
This reminds me of a dog that my neighbor sits for. He too only has three legs and is as happy and playful as any other dog.
Good advice Robert, look beyond what ails us.
People who love animals are mentally deficient morons.
Your love of animals, or should I say ‘pets’, is beautifully obvious. I smiled through reading the whole article. Have to say, to me, it’s one of your best. It actually stresses the need for humans to look beyond other humans for that total love and acceptance from a pet or two. The devotion of a dog is unmatched, even by a cat. Though the cat can be very loving as well, it’s not as devoted to their human owner as the dog. You pointed that out with love.
I don’t care for cats, not much meat on those bones. Dogs? A bit greasy but in a pinch, they will do. With all the excesses that breeders have resorted to causing all sorts of damage to the bloodlines of pets, perhaps they should change course a bit and move on from breeding for appearance sake and, well breed to feed if you get my drift Mr. Charles.