For fear that I've offended someone...or a lot of someones...

Okay. We know I don't like cats. Kind of the understatement of the century. BUT, I'd rather have a cat than a snake. or a rat. or cockroaches. I think there are other people who may feel the same way.

Just because I feel that way doesn't mean I don't like you. It doesn't mean I don't want you to have cats. It doesn't mean I won't let my kids like cats. It does mean we won't have one in our home.

Also, my feelings for cats did not show up over night and it is not out of fear-like my hatred for snakes. TERRIFIED!

I loved cats when I was a little girl. In 2nd grade my friend's cat had kittens and I went to her house everyday after school for 2 months instead of going straight home (both my parents worked) so I could pet the kittens-and be scratched. Sometimes our feelings, likes and dislikes change.

My dislike of them comes from all the hair I've picked up on my clothing from hanging out at friends' houses who had them, the horrible smell they left in a house I lived in when I was 10-12 in McMinnville, OR and the fleas I've been bitten by which cats were carrying. This is just the beginning.

I know cats are God's creations and he loves them and they are useful. We had 3 cats when we lived in Kansas and they were AWESOME mousers. Speedbump was my favorite but he got run over by a car. (Self fulfilling prophesy.)

While we had those cats I gave 'liking them' a try.

• I let them in the house and they went straight to scratching my furniture. Shunned.
• I sat outside and petted speedbump. The feel of his fur gave me the same feeling as being claustrophobic. I had a hard time breathing-but not like an allergic reaction.
• When their 'motors' ran, I found the sound kind of annoying.
• They pooped in my flower beds.
• We got rid of the last 2 shortly before we moved back to WA.

The conclusion I came to was that I just don't like cats. I like you! I like that you like cats. {bless your heart.}

If it makes you feel any better, I also hate squirrels and lizards. and SNAKES.

Lets be friends. I'm not going to do anything to your cat. I don't want to hurt any animal. I won't even kick it when you're not looking. I do have a heart.

If you want, I'll even make your cat a sleeping bag like this one... Sewing? I LOVE sewing!!

friends?