Cat Lovers Community Group
For all those people who are slaves to their cats!
Hello! I thought I would join this group, too. I am slave to two black cats, mother and son.
Recently I wrote something in my journal regarding the topic of co-dependency and the issue "control":
Items from Melodie Beattie's Book "Codependent No More"
5. Try to control events and people through helplessness, guilt, coercion, threats, advice-giving, manipulation, or domination.
<i>Everybody manipulates. Even my cat has learned how to manipulate me, and she is not even human. My cat decided this morning that she wanted to go outside â at 3:30 a.m. She communicates this by walking over me while I sleep. If I donât react then she licks me on the nose. If I still donât react, then she bites my nose. No matter what, my cat will wake me up. She has this much control over my reactions, and she knows this! Sometimes she knows this will reward her with actions like me opening the house door, and letting her go outside, because she hates using her cat-box, or sometimes, I will become annoyed and throw her out the bedroom, because I would rather sleep. There is no arguing about it â my cat manipulates and controls me! Now, do you think she is co-dependent? And is there a recovery group for manipulating abusive co-dependent cats? </i>
6. Eventually fail in their efforts or provoke people's anger.
<i>Not every attempt at manipulation is a failure. My catâs attempts sometimes fail, and she gets disappointed. I notice this because sheâll growl and hiss if I do not do what she wants. Thatâs how I know the cat is angry. But I donât care. I control her insofar that I have the human ability to open doors, and she as a cat doesnât. Sometimes she is rewarded, but I still think it would be better if she would learn to "let go" of her need to control me. Maybe a recovery program would help her.</i>
Recently I wrote something in my journal regarding the topic of co-dependency and the issue "control":
Items from Melodie Beattie's Book "Codependent No More"
5. Try to control events and people through helplessness, guilt, coercion, threats, advice-giving, manipulation, or domination.
<i>Everybody manipulates. Even my cat has learned how to manipulate me, and she is not even human. My cat decided this morning that she wanted to go outside â at 3:30 a.m. She communicates this by walking over me while I sleep. If I donât react then she licks me on the nose. If I still donât react, then she bites my nose. No matter what, my cat will wake me up. She has this much control over my reactions, and she knows this! Sometimes she knows this will reward her with actions like me opening the house door, and letting her go outside, because she hates using her cat-box, or sometimes, I will become annoyed and throw her out the bedroom, because I would rather sleep. There is no arguing about it â my cat manipulates and controls me! Now, do you think she is co-dependent? And is there a recovery group for manipulating abusive co-dependent cats? </i>
6. Eventually fail in their efforts or provoke people's anger.
<i>Not every attempt at manipulation is a failure. My catâs attempts sometimes fail, and she gets disappointed. I notice this because sheâll growl and hiss if I do not do what she wants. Thatâs how I know the cat is angry. But I donât care. I control her insofar that I have the human ability to open doors, and she as a cat doesnât. Sometimes she is rewarded, but I still think it would be better if she would learn to "let go" of her need to control me. Maybe a recovery program would help her.</i>
My cats have a certain time they want me up too. Sometimes, they will let me sleep in. But not if their food bowl needs filling up.