I have many toys. Mice with crinkly tails. Balls that light up. Feathers on strings. A suspicious number of objects that aren’t technically toys but have been… repurposed.
But among them all, there is one I cherish most: My little stuffed dog. Specifically, a small, fuzzy, noble-looking German shepherd.
Love at First Pounce
The moment I saw him, something inside me whispered: Yes. You will be mine.
I tackled him. I wrestled him. I bit his ears lovingly.
We’ve been inseparable ever since.
I have tried to hide him in the laundry basket.
I have carried him from room to room like a prized catch.
I have napped with my chin on his back, dreaming of vast kingdoms we rule together.
My Purrson calls him “Mini Jake” because apparently he resembles one of the big dogs that used to here. That’s fine. I call him Mine.
The Games We Play
We engage in many rituals:
- Wrestling at dawn (me: undefeated champion)
- Hide-and-seek under the couch (him: very bad at hiding)
- Tender cuddling, which is immediately followed by me biting his face
- Strategic dragging into inconvenient places, like my Purrson’s chair
He never complains.
He never drools on my fur.
He never steals the last treat.
He is, in short, the ideal dog.
Why He Matters
You may think he’s just a toy. But he’s not.
He’s comfort when the world is noisy.
He’s a sparring partner when I feel wild.
He’s a naptime buddy when I’m sleepy but don’t want to admit it.
And in a world where the vacuum exists and birds refuse to let me catch them, sometimes a soft little dog is exactly what a cat needs.
Do You Have a Favorite?
I know I’m not the only cat with a special treasure. Maybe it’s a feather, a sock, a very loud frog toy, or a box that used to contain something important.
Tell me about yours! You can comment, send a photo, or just whisper it softly while I pretend not to listen. We understand the value of the one – that thing we return to, again and again, with claws, teeth, and love.
But you can’t have mine.
Purrs and perfectly gnawed ears,
Tyson 🐾
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