Feline Friend! Or Foe?

As I write this, a young, black-and-ginger cat sits curled up in my lap. It assumed the same position last night while I was on the phone. This morning as I ate breakfast. It appears I’ve made a friend.

This fluffy friend has made me think a fair bit about the stray animals here, plus animals—and pets—generally. First, the stray cats and dogs are rampant here. Inherently, that is not a bad thing. After all, why should it be? But, it is a marked difference from home, and comes with consequences. In Thailand—or, at least, these parts of the country that are heavily touristed and I have some insight into—stray animals are usually treated very well.

The community takes care of them, in a collective effort. After all, the exchange is generally rewarding for both parties. These animals are comforting. They’re fun and they have a tendency to make us humans smile. Many store owners are savvily aware of this relationship, too. Perhaps a quick pat from a passerby may get them to linger long enough to stick around and order a drink while they’re at it.

On the flip-side, there is real risk from getting too close with these friends. A scratch or bite that breaks the skin is truly serious, and potentially fatal. Rabies is lethal, and a genuine risk here, even if not obvious. It will kill you. Then, a slew of parasites, viruses, and skin infections also pose threats from even the most innocuous contact. Besides those pathological concerns, you also just cannot gauge how these animals will respond, particularly in stressful moments. If they’re highly aggressive because of some previous experience, you probably won’t pick up on it until you’ve gotten too close. So, while many of these companions are harmless and cuddly, those who aren’t pose true danger.

This friend in particular has clearly been living around residents here for some time. We’ve seen her loafing on other balconies, following behind the cleaning lady as she does the rounds, and constantly curling up with new guests. We’ve come to learn that she is resourceful, too. At the slightest creak of the door, her head will swivel around. She’ll sit and meow to be let in, and scurry past you at the slightest opportunity. I get it. Last night there was torrential rain, alongside wind that blew it sideways across the balcony. I’d want to come inside as well. She has even figured out that she can scratch through the velcro fly-screen if windows are open for fresh air and she can use some parkour skills to perch herself on the ledge. Although this relationship is new for us, this obviously isn’t her first rodeo.

At the end of the day, she simply wants what we all do: food, water, and shelter. Finding some cuddly human friends along the way is a nice bonus, even if, cynically, it may ultimately be a transactional relationship. For now, she is a harmless, calming influence, who brings a smile to our faces and gives us a slice of home. But the need for caution lingers, and shouldn’t be something I easily forget, no matter how cuddly the cat is.