I am jealous of my cat. I'm jealous of his ability to indulge so heedlessly, so capriciously in the one thing that has become a luxury in my life. He gets to sleep.
I don't get enough sleep. I do, however, have ample opportunity to contemplate and covet the sleeping habits and proclivities of my cat. My cat's resting world seems as active as his waking one. I see his ears and nose twitch. I wonder what he's dreaming about: sitting at the window and watching birds fly by, running away from Claire as she tries to pull his tail, tuna fish. Sometimes, he half wakes up from his dream about tuna fish. Eyes like slits, he yawns with abandon and lazily repositions himself for another stint on the couch. He may have just enough energy to get one long sweep of the tongue down his backside before he's sleeping again. His brief time awake seems to really tire him out.
I've actually tried to amuse myself by attempting to wake him up. I figure misery loves company. Claire gets out the maracas. I'll bang them extra loud with her and watch, as he opens one eye, disoriented and confused. I'll softly lob small plastic toy pieces at his chair, while he's in repose on his favorite pillow (animal lovers: don't worry; I have a really bad aim, on purpose).
He has amazing adaptive abilities. He's learned to ignore my interruptions. He has turned resting into an art form, taken it to a whole new level of Zen. Sometimes, a small plastic toy piece will land on him, and he won't even notice (I lied. Sometimes, they hit him).
The Sensei of Sleep, really. If I weren't so incensed, I'd probably be in awe of his masterful ability to so unabashedly embrace slumber.
But my cat has betrayed me. We used to sleep together, snuggle up on the couch for a snooze. Distant memories, now. He seems to have forgotten our good ol' days altogether.
One day, we will find our way back to one another. I can only hope, because I certainly ain't doing much dreaming…
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I am so jealous of sleep period now. Even though my kids sleep ok now, I still don't always sleep great. Here is to hoping that we both get more sleep real soon!!
ReplyDeleteMy husband sleeps like your cat. One minute wide awake the next sound asleep. Sometimes as little as 5-minutes and he is all refreshed! Me, not so much.
ReplyDeleteI can't do cat naps! I wish I could, I'm staring at my cat right now and wondering how he can sleep so soundly haha.
ReplyDeleteMy cat is always snuggly and wants to curl up with me ... when it's cold out. She can't be bothered if it's not half way to freezing though.
ReplyDeleteMEOW!! Cat naps aka Siestas is what I do best. BB2U P.S. That first paragraph- wow and woah.
ReplyDeleteMy two cats are currently curled up asleep on my bed, ignoring the world. When I went in to put some laundry away, the look of disdain I received for making a noise was soul withering! :) I'd love to nap the day away, but sadly, that is a cat only privilege!
ReplyDeleteWay to turn a "tweet" into a well written meditation on sleep. :) I'm envious of anything that sleeps. Even the stuffed animals.
ReplyDeleteOh, the envy . . .
ReplyDeleteI used to sleep. Then I had children. I dreamed of dreaming. Then they moved out. Now the house is empty.
And still, I can't sleep . . .
Sigh.
oh my gosh he's making me sleepy just looking at him!
ReplyDeleteOH, I love napping... I could never nap until my second baby was born, and I would fall asleep sitting on the couch holding her, just resting my head back a little... now I rarely nap, because it takes me 30 minutes just to FALL asleep. My brain is too busy...
ReplyDeleteI laughed out loud at the "I lied. Sometimes they hit him." I don't know if it's lack of sleep or what but that line to me is SO FUNNY. Like I am still laughing because I just typed it. And I miss napping so so much. So now that means that I'm jealous of your cat and I haven't even met him. Or thrown tiny bits of toys at him. Maybe someday. A girl can dream.
ReplyDeletelol I used to tell my sister's cat to "get a job" because I was so jealous of her sleeping when I would have to get up and go to work. Now my husband gets jealous when I pet the cat. DH says the cat gets more lovin' than he does. Well, yeah, duh!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, I love how a cat can easily find a place to sleep and it doesn't even have to be comfortable. Sometimes I wish I could see life from a cat's point of view.
ReplyDeleteYup, my cat can sleep anywhere. In fact, he's sleeping now. And no, I can't wake him up either.
ReplyDeleteHahah, oh I know how you feel. My dogs sleep on my couch all day and I get so jealous of them. They're not even technically allowed on the couch!
ReplyDeleteOh and in response to your comment on my blog, don't get too jealous. My first daughter didn't night-wean until she was 2 years old and at 4 still doesn't sleep through the night most nights!
DeleteI loved this post, Rachel. I love cats, sleep probably a little bit more than cats at this stage of my life, love Twitter and love misery so this had all the components of greatness. I caught myself being jealous of one of the cartoon characters in a show 4 Year Old watches, for the fact that she just woke up from a nap. I hear you. Wake up your cat for me.
ReplyDeleteA catnap here and there can be a delightful thing. :)
ReplyDeleteCats so don't need us. It's a painful reality, and one we quickly forget when they remember we exist, then leave us again as if we mean nothing.
ReplyDeleteMy sister has two dachshunds that act almost exactly the same way. They can just sleep right through all the thunderous noise our kids make. Or maybe they're just pretending not to hear so they don't get sucked in. hmm...
ReplyDeleteI don't have a cat (am violently allergic) however, right at his moment, I am exceedingly jealous of yours and anyone or anything else that is asleep. I love the comment above about the stuffed animals x
ReplyDeleteYou can see why sleep is such a good torture tool. Not enough sleep makes us all cranky.
ReplyDeleteI would love to be a cat.
Without the bottom licking stuff.