How My Cat Made Me a Better Neighbor
My cat has no concept of boundaries — emotional, geographic, or social. Naturally, this has improved my standing on the block. He introduced me to everyone. Not by choice. He simply walked into their yards, porches, garages, and once, their SUV. I had to follow with apologies and small talk. Boom: instant community. He forced me to be observant. If a neighbor’s window is open, he’s in it. If their door is ajar, he’s halfway through. I now notice things like “Your gate latch is loose” or “Your Amazon package has been sitting out since Tuesday.” He taught me diplomacy. Nothing builds negotiation skills like retrieving a cat who has decided he lives with the people across the street now. He made me generous. When your cat eats a neighbor’s plants, you show up with muffins. It’s the law. He softened the block. People who never spoke now wave at me because they know my cat. Some even ask about him by name. I’m basically the cat’s plus-one in my own neighborhood. My cat ...