As a child I only had guppies and hamsters as pets and couldn’t find a connection to them. Much later in life, when our kids were young, my husband found a tiny cat by the house by the road by a tree trunk. He brought it to the garden, and after much lengthy negotiation – I was very reluctant – I agreed that we could keep him. Well, lo and behold, that little cat taught me so much, and eventually we even got a companion for him, and when our first cat died prematurely, I was the one who agreed to fill the void and get our third cat. Now I’m hooked - and changed.

I’m sure the universe sent our first cat to us. He opened my heart to all animals, not just him, to how intelligent, communicative, loving, perceptive, even wise, and endlessly patient with us two-leggeds they are.

You know how an animal looks you in the eyes with such faithfulness and trust? How it looks at you deep and long, with so much adoration? Any animal, not just your dog or cat. The look is authentic, transparent and loving. No strings attached, no return gift expected. Animals don’t judge, talk back, withhold love, or pull off any of the other emotional manipulative shenanigans people do all the time.

That’s why we love them so much. They stir in us what we’d like to see in each other. They model what we strive for, show us that ideal of unconditional love, which we have difficulty achieving but know in our hearts is the way. When you return that gaze a bit longer, you’ll go a little deeper in your connection, and see a little more of its soul. Its’s there. Animals have souls. Now I know.