It has been my desire to write about my new kitten Sugar ever since I got her. I had a long talk with her and I realized my new year will be different with Sug as a roommate.

In 2019, I lost both of my precious cats which I had brought from Kentucky. One had kidney failure and one had cancer.

After their deaths, I had a big fat depression. You see, I get attached with my pets and I’m never without one.

My family stepped in and, unbeknownst to me, found and kept this beautiful little white Scandinavian forest cat.

They waited until they thought I was ready and then presented to me the smartest, most gorgeous 2 lb. 6 oz. kitten.

I asked Sug to put her two cents in and here is what she said and I quote word for word.

“I’m telling you the honest truth. Being a human being’s best feline friend is highly underrated.

I know that many cats go inside and outside, play with other cats, catch bugs or whatever. They get dirty, get fleas, get rained on and even get in to an occasional cat fight. I think I could endure all of it except the cat fight.

Apparently I am to be of the strictly indoor cat variety. It is what is this entails that I want to talk about.

I’m the only feline living here with Jean now. There are many of us who have to have a workable relationship with other cats, but I don’t.

If you live with a human who r-e-a-l-l-y loves cats, almost for sure you will shortly have a super glue bond. This means you find yourself so in tune, so wrapped up and sensitive to each other and even to the noises they make and the constant visitors who come.

But mainly I’m must live up to my obligations as an indoor cat by evaluating everyone who comes near Jean and make her feel safe. The usually means a quick trip to Jean’s lap to protect her when someone comes.

I have an issue with food. When they bring her breakfast tray, I like the scrambled eggs as much as she does. But nobody wants me eating it off her plate.

The answer could have been a bit in my food tray. I just don’t see what the big deal is. If I lived outside, I’d catch my own breakfast and I don’t like what comes in cans.

The vacuum cleaner was my first life shock. I hate the noise it makes but Jean uses it a lot to pickup all the litter I spew on the floor in the vacuum. Oh well, it’s my litter and my spew.

We indoor cats need to stay open. I mean, though we are on earth to help people and teach them about unconditional love we might get a little bit over protective and possessive. I have to admit that I sometime judge a person here who is visiting or helping but I know better and I have to work on this.

There’s a very kind man who comes every Wednesday morning to draw Jean’s blood. He’s done it for many months and I see that Jean likes and trusts him But he has a needle and he sticks it in her arm until the blood comes. I think I should rescue her. I can’t so I always sit on her lap for comfort until it’s done.

Now, I had something happen to me just the other day. I was sitting in our front window sunning and snoozing when this cat walked by the window outside. She was pretty enough but she was weird.

She stopped, looked up at me and immediately flipped over, crawled on her stomach, and rubbed against the wall and then she made a moaning noise that absolutely made my skin crawl. What in the world was wrong with this cat?

Pretty soon, Jean went outside and the cat lay down upside down so Jean could rub her tummy. Jean came back in and said to me in this sweet voice, “Poor little thing she’s in heat.”

Well that was something that should mean something to me, but I just thought that cat was just plain nuts.

Let me tell you that a little later on, I learned what, “she’s in heat” meant as it explained to me that I won’t roll around and moan like she did if I was spayed.

I gotta tell you, when it was over and I woke up, I hurt down there a lot. But Jean took good care of me.

Listen, there is more than filling the vital role of best friend, entertainer, daily protector always, show affection lovingly as much as you can give.

My breed, Scandinavian forest cat, is pretty rare. We are known for our sense of adventure, our bravery, our ability to bond and love our people. Our white fur is beautiful beyond comparison. We are very vocal and we talk constantly. And we are determined to do the things we want to do and when.

If a person understands these breed traits, we make great life companions. Now, if you don’t mind, from time to time I will take the task of writing this column.

Two of Jean’s previous cats actually wrote for I Love Cats, a national magazine, so why can’t I? Also, it’s good to vent and be heard. Meanwhile I think all of us strictly indoor cats should get a medal of honor for all we do for our people.”

Yes, this new year will be quite different with me trying to keep up with Sug and all of her antics. I feel blessed to have her.

The view from the mountain is wondrous.

Jean Brody is a passionate animal lover and mother. She previously lived in Winchester, but now resides in Littleton, Colorado. Her column has appeared in the Sun for more than 25 years.