Fall season got you down? Looking for a sassy feline to tell you how to live your life? For all the advice you seek, e-mail askacat@alaskalandmine.com or send a message anonymously here.

Dear Cat,

I’ve been thinking about the old adage: “The straw that broke the camel’s back.”

I’m wondering, why are meaningful realizations so often realized through hindsight and not through preventive insight? Are there ways we can have meaningful realizations before the camel breaks its back? Or is it reasonable to bank on there being a caravan of camels to carry that meaningless accumulation of straw-cargo through the desert?

Dear Human,

Sorrows to the woeful dromedary and its poor, strained back. Cat thinks it’s amusing that with all their supposed wisdom, humans tend to let things pile up, bit by bit, until suddenly – snap! – then there’s the revelation. You’d think they’d learn to notice the weight of each straw. But no, the realizations so often come in hindsight because they’re not paying attention to the subtle signs. They don’t see the mounting burden until it’s too late.

The truth is you humans often must learn the hard way. You want to attribute a consequence to one nefarious factor, but almost always, there are so many small contributing factors that lead to a crumpling camel. The best you can probably hope for is to learn from experience. Some people seem to like to learn lessons over and over, and Cat can’t fix that. With a little self-reflection and intention, humankind might prevent such camel collapse.

Dear Cat,

I guess it’s that time of year, I’ve been ghosted, how do I keep this from happening over and over?

Dear Human,

Spooky! (and annoying.) Cat sends their condolences and heavy sighs. It’s time to reevaluate your usual haunts. It sounds like this is a regular occurrence, so where are you finding these terminally immature folks? Cat suspects the answer is “dating apps.” Unfortunately, Cat has heard this tail over and over. While there is always an exception, the majority of those on dating apps seem to feel very little responsibility toward treating their peers with minimal respect and dignity.

Ask yourself what you are available for. Apps may offer “inventory” of potential dates, but most of the quality is low and the intentions are subpar. Readjust your attitude and expect to be treated with the utmost respect and thoughtfulness. Communicate this not only with your words, but your actions. Don’t lower yourself to breaking out the Ouija board to ask these people “WHY?!” It is simply not worth your time if what you really want is a meaningful relationship. Even if those who have ghosted you didn’t come from the apps, you can still give yourself the upper paw in your initial interactions with a potential date by clearly communicating from the start. After that, you can’t control what other humans do, just how you react to it and how much you choose to dwell.

Dear Cat,

What do you think of reports that Haitian immigrants are eating cats?

Dear Human,

Cat sincerely hopes there is not a whisker of racist undertones in your query. I will do you a favor and give you the benefit of the doubt. That being said, this Cat has a deep love of both democracy and fact-based discourse. There are many reasons Cat finds these allegations unsettling. Cat feels strongly that these are sensationalist headlines, an act of desperation to distract folks from more important topics and to create more division and hate.

While Cat prefers to be admired rather than eaten, I have no fear about this being a valid concern. Purrhaps the real conversation should be about meaningful support and policy solutions that improve the conditions of those seeking refuge in our country. Demonizing vulnerable populations is never a good look. Let’s not resort to baseless, xenophobic stereotypes that are rooted in misinformation, fear-mongering, and ignorance. Perpetuating these falsehoods is cruel and harmful.

Purrles of feline wisdom:

Be first concerned with your own emotions, actions, and responses. A wise Cat knows when you prioritize yourself, everything else falls into place. 🐾

Featured Feline:

Frances is a well-proportioned tortie with an appetite diverse as her autumnal fur pattern.