Sam’s “Safe Place” – The Basement!

Was that the doorbell? Darn - I was just settling in for a nap on Mom's bed!

Sometimes it’s not easy being me!  I’ve always been a nervous guy – especially about stuff like the doorbell or telephone ringing – or hearing strange voices – or when a helicopter flies over the house!  You’d think after twelve years I’d be used to all of that stuff but it still sends me to the basement every time…….my safe place. 

Know why the basement is my safe place?  Well, the story starts twelve years ago when Mom and Dad brought me home from the shelter.  We have a big house – I’d been in a tiny cage since I’d found my way to the shelter….Mom figured I’d be overwhelmed in a BIG space so she’d made me a nice little spot in the basement.  Comfy little bed, my new litterbox, some toys and a view out the french doors all fenced in with boxes or furniture so it was a confined and safe small space for me to get used to.   BUT.. when she first sat me down on the floor I ran – I ran and ran and ran all around the perimeter of the basement trying to find a way out – I was so scared…….I found the stairs but was too little to climb them and just wanted to find a hole to crawl into!  My parents let me do what I needed to do but I finally stopped running and Mom picked me up and put me into the little “home” she’d made me in that smaller area of the basement.  There was a chair there that I crawled under – I finally felt safe.  My parents were in the basement with me a lot that first week – I would come out from under the chair and finally trusted them enough they could pet me and hold me and play with me…….and after a week Mom took the barriers down so I could explore the whole basement.  WOW…..so much room!!!!

After a few weeks I got big enough to climb the stairs and ALL of us remember when I first got a look at the upstairs and all that room with all those windows……THEN I kept going and went up more stairs to another whole floor with more stuff to explore and see!  One tiny kitten and all that room…..it was pretty scary for me.  If I felt overwhelmed I knew I could go to my basement and feel safe. 

I haven’t changed.  Oh yeah – I have the run of the joint both inside and out – but whenever I’m feeling uncertain about anything – down to MY basement I go.  It was the very first place I ever felt safe when I came to live here and it still is my sanctuary to this day. 

Nervous?  Maybe I am…..but I prefer to think of myself as CAREFUL and CAUTIOUS……it’s a big joke with my parents’ friends though because they hardly ever see me!  They tease Mom and Dad about it and say “oh sure! you guys have a cat…uh huh…yeah….tell us another one…!!”   I’m known as Mom and Dad’s “invisible cat”!   

Kinda makes me even more special – don’t you think????

Happy Saturday from Sammy, One Spoiled and Invisible Cat