Lessons I have learnt from my cat

I moved to Abu Tur two months ago. The flat is not too big, but there is a balcony.
Soon as I decided to move I realized its time to fulfill my dream of owing a cat.

Growing up we had a cat, my sister brought it from the army. I wanted to call her Margaret or maybe even Elizabeth. My father thought Shunra (cat in Aramaic) would be perfect. My sister wanted Mitsubishi. We called her Chatulah (a cat in Hebrew) at the end.
She was Siamese. She was mean. She was taken away from her mother too young. I loved her. She lived with us for 15 years, she witnessed the happy moments of a house full of guests for Pesach or Chanukah parties. We had to lock her in the room I grew up in, during the Shivah we sat after my father died.


I told my friends I am looking for a cat. My friend Sarit worked on the Srugim set. The soundman Motti had few kittnes to offer. And on the day I met Leonard Cohen , me and 45,000 more Israelis, I got my cat. She is white and funny. she makes me laugh. its a lot nowdays.

I thought to call her Suzanne, but "chatulah" kept slipping out.
So I call her Tulah. I was told it means silence in an African language. Suits her.

What have I learnt from her?

You see, I have done some reading. The intenet is great for that too. It happens to be that cats as opposed to dogs don’t understand the concept of punishment. One must NOT shout or het a cat as it will only make the cat aggressive.

So how to educate a cat?

It works with rewards. When she does her stuff in her sand box she gets some cream cheese. When she tears her special card box and NOT my sofa she gets some tuna fish.

It’s interesting. It demands me to notice and acknowledge when she behaves properly .giving her respect when she derves it.

It makes my think about education. About how I educate or interact.

Am I that good with positive feedback? When was the last time I told I friend how much I appreciate her advice? Have I ever tried this with my colleagues? Family members?

So Tulah- thank you. You are making me a better person.

And please do not tear my red sofa. ok?