I am a cat owner with two bengal cats named River and Kaylee. I’ve always loved cats, but these two lovely girls are the first ones I ever owned. Because of their breed, they have an interesting mix of intelligence and wildly active natures, as well as the calm, cuddly characteristics of normal domestic cats.

I often look at my cats and feel envious of the way they live. Without even trying, they manage to live my ideal life. They run, jump, and play, essentially doing parkour all over the house. They play fight, and quite skilfully I might add. When they go outside, they are fully appreciative of nature all around them. They sleep well, always. They are friendly & social, and enjoy playing with the guests that come in and out of our home. They even meditate, sitting calmly for long periods, not looking at anything in particular, fully immersed in the moment. They don’t worry about the future or obsess about the past.

This is essentially the life I try to live and they live it, without even thinking about it. While their life is exceptionally easy being domestic animals and all, their thought processes wouldn’t be all that different in the wild. Sure, they would have to work harder to find food, and take measures to stay safer, but their mentality wouldn’t change. They don’t think about it. They just live their lot in life and follow their instincts without judgement or thought as to whether what they are doing is “good enough.” They live in a constant state of acceptance. That doesn’t mean they don’t ask for things. If they see me outside, they will often meow, wanting to come outside too. Even when they do this though, it’s a means to an end. If they go out, great! If they don’t, they eventually move on to other things. They don’t stew in anger or disappointment. That being said, if something is important enough, they’ll keep asking for it if it’s in short supply, even try to get it for themselves (like when they’re hungry and their bowl is empty).

Even though I sometimes envy my cats, I am glad I have them. They serve as a constant reminder of how to live a good life. I love my sweet, little Zen masters. 🙂

Do you have a pet that serves as a life model to you in some way? If so, how? Please share your thoughts in the comments.