Maybe we could learn something from furry friends

As the New Year approached and I was bombarded with self-improvement products, I started thinking about what my New Year’s resolution would be this year. And even more I wondered, having picked a resolution, something to improve in myself, how well would I stick with it?

As I was musing, Riki, my cat, picked that moment to tentatively investigate the availability of my lap. Riki, who came to us as a hungry stray five years ago, really likes to eat but never, it seemed, wanted to be picked up or touched. That is, until this year when she discovered that she likes sitting on laps and being petted.

If Riki were to make a New Year’s resolution, it would probably go something like: “I will eat less and sit on laps more.”

Which made me wonder, if pets were to have New Year’s resolutions, what would they be? I asked some friends to help me out.

Mary Lee Nitschke, a certified dog trainer, told me “I have a little Russian blue cat, Blueberry, who is an indoor cat, whose New Year’s resolution might be: ‘I resolve not to dig into my person’s shoulder when I launch my cat body at a blue jay landing on my kitty TV (i.e. birdfeeder outside the window).’ “

I think his second resolution might be: “I resolve not to jump off the table onto the dog’s tail when she saunters by on her way through the room.” He considers the dog to be a primitive canid who remarkably accepts this behavior from the cat, but probably has some resolutions of her own about not killing Blueberry.

Karen Shanley, author of “Dogs of Dreamtime” thought that Kiera, her Australian Shepherd’s resolution might be: “I will resolve to stop herding my people when they suddenly move too fast and make those herky-jerky motions,” while her border collie Graidy’s resolution might be: “I will stop my sneak attacks on Kiera and heretofor cease and desist from launching myself off the stairs onto her whenever she comes around the corner. On second thought. … Nah. Look out Kiera, here I come! Geronnnnimo!”

Amy Shojai, author of 21 dog and cat care books and certified animal behavior consultant (www.Shojai.com) thought: “My 8-year-old, very opinionated, Siamese wannabe, Seren, might resolve, ‘I won’t rattle the wooden window blinds and threaten to pull them down anymore – as long as I get enough attention without being a pest.’ “

Veterinarian Dr. Franklin D. McMillan, author of “Unlocking the Animal Mind” said one of his cat patients, Snowball, might consider: “I resolve to stop picking on my brother Eddie by hissing and chasing him away from the best food, the best chair, and the best spot next to ‘Mom’ when she’s asleep in bed. I can tell it makes Eddie very upset, and I want to make his life more enjoyable.”

Veterinarian Dr. Linda Aronson (www.Petshrink.com) thought her bearded collies might have some of the following resolutions: “Qi would resolve that everyone played with her 24 hours a day; Ruffi would resolve that mum spends less time with other animals; and Rumble the cat would resolve to eat delicious food all day and sit on some part of mum’s body.”

“But these aren’t resolutions, they are wishes,” Aronson continues. “Animals don’t desire to be better; they don’t dwell on such human topics. They strive for what they want, but changing themselves to fit someone else’s ideal isn’t part of their ethos.”

And this is true. While animals may wish for changes in their environment or we may wish for changes in their behavior, they have no guile and are themselves whole and wonderful. It should instead be our resolution to give them what they need to live a happy and healthy life. Perhaps we should instead consider what they can teach us.

“I resolve to follow Seren’s lead,” says Shojai, “to jump into fun with all four paws, purr more with friends and be more discriminating about the way I spend valuable time. I will quit work earlier each evening to make more time for kitty lap-sitting, playing ‘eye tag’ and catnip fixes.”

“I resolve to bring more fun into my pets’ lives through playing more new games and mental challenges like finding hidden treats around the house,” said McMillan.

“I will resolve to be more consistent in the messages I give my dogs,” says Shanley. ” ‘No’ will mean ‘no,’ and not ‘yes’ if you keep pestering me. And ‘yes’ will actually mean yes, we can go for our walk right now, instead of in 10 minutes when I finish up other things that aren’t really as important as being with you, and you and me spending time outside together.”

And I will resolve to keep myself and my animal companions healthy and safe and, like them, strive to play more and live in the moment with joy and happiness.

Now, I think that’s a New Year’s resolution I can stick with.